
Qass JE^ill/ 

Book <H 4& 

1 8 05" 



THE 

TRAVELLER; 



OR, 



vIEDITATIONS ON VARIOUS SUBJECTS, 

WRITTEN 

ON BOARD A MAN OF WAR* 



TO WHICH IS ADDED* 

INVERSE WITH THE WORLD UNSEEN. 
Br JAMES MEIKLE; 

LATE SUR.GEON AT CARNWATH. 



TO WHICH IS PB.EFIXED, 

A LIFE OF THE AUTHOR, 



EDINBURGH: 

PRINTED BY J, PILLANS & SONS, LAWNMAR&ET, 
FOR OGLE & AIKMAN, PARLIAMENT-SQUARE ; M.^OGLEj 

GLASGOW ' y AND R. OGLE, NO. 5. GREAT TURN-^TlLEj 
BOLBORN, LONDON \ SOLD ALSO BY THE 

PRINTERS. 



1SC5* 













\ 






% 



CONTENTS, 



LIFE of the AUTHOR, .... . . ..;-■■ 

THE TRAVELLER, 

Med. i. Going abroad, • . . . . . . . I 

2. On taking farewell, 3 

1 

3. The temper cf him that goes abroad, . 5 

4. On finding many pafifangers on more, . 6 

5. On arriving at a firange city, . . • . y 

6. Good and bad men mixed together in the 

vrorlc, ' , 3 s . . . . . . . 8 

7. Qn being enabled to renri a temptation^ , 10 

8. The promifes a divine trealbre ? , . . 11 

9. The (acred af ■■. , , , . . .24. 
I-QS On pumping the 'hip, ..>.«.-. 26 
II, On the anchor of the ihip, . . . . . 27 
Z2» The IaI!s P ,,..♦,.«,. 

& a 



** CO.NTEN T Sg 

Pag. 

Med. 1-3. On the compafs and helm> • 1 . . 32 

14. Provifions and ftores, ..... . 34 

15. Eallail, . . . . . . . . , . . , . . 37 

16. The more we fee of fin, the more we fhould 

hate fin, , . . „ . . . . . '39 

17. Knowing a fin to be committed, . . . ib* 

38. A man of war, . . . ■ . . . . . . 41 

39. The difference between the righteous and 

the guilty, 45- 

20. The judgement of fwearers ; according to 

equity, 48 

21. Thinking on a dead friend, . ... 50 

22. The union between Chrift and believers, 52 
3g. Imperfect attainments, . ; . . . 54 
24. On -king's allowance, . . . . . . 55 

2$. On the blowing up of a (hip, . . . • 57 

26. Some flain by mercies as well as by judge- 

ments, ........ . . 60 

27. On a fine fleet, . ^ 62 

28. Setting fail, ........ • 64 

29. Time to be redeemed, . » . * . . 6$ 

30. In view of an engagement, .... 67 

31. On our Lord difplaying his divinity on the 

fea, " . . 68 

32. A memorandum for him that goes abroad, 70 

33. How the Sabbath, or Lord's day, is to be 

fan&ified,. . .- 73 



.»» 



UINTENTS. IB 

Pag* 

Med. 34. Anchoring off an enemy's coaft, • . . 76" 

35. Coafiing on a country of another religion, '78 

36. The mails, ; . . . .80 

37. Upon one being put under confinement 

abroad, . . • .82 

38. The prophet's defcription of the wicked, 84 

39. On the patience of God with finners, . 85 

40. On the excellency of the Chriftian religion 

above the Jewifn, with refpecl to a tra- 
veller, ... 87 

41. Coafting along another king's dominions, 88 

42. On hearing from friends, 90 

43. On the well of the ihip, . . . . . 93 

44. The company of the wicked, ...» 95 

45. On awaking at midnight, 97 

46. On one curling and fwearing at an affront, 99 

47. God's equity in the eternity of torment, ici 

48. Inftrudiions from the communications of 

the wicked, 103 

49. Sorrow for fin a fign of grace, . . . 105 

50. On hearing a rumour of peace, . . . 107 

51. The noble principle, 108 

52. Camparifons, . , , * . . .. .. in 

53. Our forrow for fin too contracted, . * 115 

54. Prifoners, ........ . 117 

55. A ihip falling foul of ano'kher ? • . .2x8 



CONTENT S., 

Mzd. j6. War, . . . . . 12c 

57. Unfortunate retreat, 122 

58. The natural man infeniible of mercy, . 1 23 

59. The word of God irrefiftible, . . .125 

60. Docking'ihips, ........ 127 

61. On going into harbour, ..... 128 

62. On taking in large pro viflons, . . . 130 
6$. Comfort* and^ terror in one conSderation, 131 

64. On being in hot climates in a few days, 134 

65. An high wind preferable to a calm, . . ib. 

66. On failing near different nations, . .136 

67. On reaching a port after being long at 

fca, • • 137 

68. On a man that died by liquor, • , . J 39 

69 . The earth a globe, . . . . * • 141 

70. On (hips miftaking one another, . . 142 

71. What we ought to remember, . . .145 

72. The patience of God very great, . . 146 

73. Delufion, 147 

74. On feeing {laves at work, . . . . 149 

75. Quarantine, .........151 

76. The needle, . . 152 

77. In a Roman-catholic church, , . "' 
^8. In a hot climate, . . . . . * . 158 

79. Filters j * 160 

So. In a fouthern climate, . . ... 162 
81. On a Court-martial. ..«.*. 



C ON T E NTS. fr 

Pag, 
Med. S2. On feme who were burnt by a quantity of 
gun-powder, catching fire in time of 
an engagement, ....... 166 

83. On a fea-engagement, fought Aug. 17. 168 

84. On prifoners, 1 7° 

85. A reflection on the royal Pfalmift's ex- 

preffion, Pfai. xlii. 7. All thy waves and 
ihy billows are gone over ?ne 9 . . . .172 

86. On a Inert indifpofition, 174 

87. On putting out a light, 175 

88. On dividing the fpoil, . . . * . .176 

89. A daily catechifm for fearnen, I . . 378 

90. A proper infpeclion, ...... 179 

91. On a great ftorm of thunder, lightning, 

and rain, . . 182 

92. On being interrupted in fecret prayer, . 184 
$$. On the armour of foldiers, • . , . 185 

94. All things made up in Chrift, . . . 187 

95. The birth-day, 189 

96. Time paft never returns, 192 

97. On fhips fleering different courfes with 

the fame wind, ....... 194 

98. On being driven back to the harbour, . 296 

99. The fpirits of jufl: men made perfect; . 197 
ice. Going to engage, ....... J 99 

id, Arguments to refignation, ; . » . 2£t 



\i CONTENTS. 

Med. 102. Saints have no caufe to complain, . . 2C2 

1 03. Approaching fruition, 203 

104. Infinite and eternal properties of the blifs 

above, 205 

IC5. Bad company, 207 

106. On going beyond the line, . . • 209 

107. On a Popifh proceflion to prevent the re- 

turn of an earthquake, . . . . *. 210 
ig8. Sailing in the Torrid Zone, . . . 212 
jop. Under the direcl: Meridian, .... 214 
211, Under the Meridian, the iun and moon 

high, , ........ 217 

112. A fquall of rain, lightning, and thunder, 21 S 

113. Emulation, . ,...«•• 220 

114. Birthday, ......... 22^ 

115. Though we walk on earth, our conven- 

tion mould be in heaven, .... 225 
11,6. Great love in God, that we may love 

God, .......... 227 

116. Providence to be approved of, . , 233 

117. Bright views and bold language above, 235 

118. Declining years, , ...... 237 

119. The expected change, ..... 240 
121. Arguments for faith in God, . . .242 
2 22. The traveller at home^ . r ♦ * 244 



CONTENTS, VU 

CONVERSE WITH THE WORLD 

UNSEEN. 

ftp 

1. Future glory, • ♦ * . , • . , 247 

2. On want of divine love, * 248 

3. We grope in the dark while here below, 250 

4. All things work for good to the faints, 251 

5. A foul converted, joy among the angels, 253 

6. Earth not our home, 254 

7. We Surald live above the world, . . 255 

8. Joy awaits the faints, 256 

9. The joy cf faints unfeen, . , , . . 257 

10. Heaven the bell inheritance, . . . 258 

11. Enemies overthrown, 259 

1 2. Excercife of the bleffed, . . . . • 260 

13. Complaints of fpiritual languor, . . 262 

14. Preparation for heaven, 263 

15. The eternal Sabbath, 265 

16. Indifference to the world, .... 266 

17. The di "embodied faint, ..... 267 

18. A check for not meditating on divine 

thin g s > 275 

19. Approbation of trying providences, . 277 

20. Faith's triumph over affliction, . . . 278 

21. A fweet profpeel of future blifs, . -279 

22. The raviihing employment cf faints in 



tfJS CONTENTS 

Pag. 

23. A reprehenfion for decay in grace, • • 281 

24. The noble indifference, ib. 

2$- No happinefs below, ...... 283 

26. God a never-failing portion," .... ib. 

27. God claims the whole heart, . . . 284 

28. The bed employment, . .... 285 

29. On the death of friends, ib, 

30. Divine wifdom in our various lots, . . 286 

31. The mind too little on heaven, . . . 288 

32. The duty of the aged faint, ... . ib. 
.33. Afflictions will attend us to our laft, . 290 



THE 



THE 



LIFE 



OF 



MR JAMES MEIKLE. 



THE 

LIFE 

OP 

MR JAMES MEIKLE, 



HPHERE are perhaps few perfons who have perufed 
an author's writings with much pleafure and advan* 
tage, who feel not a defire to know the character and 
hiftoryof one who has contributed fo largely to their en** 
tertainment and inftruftion. The biography, theretore, 
of favourite authors, if not barren of incidents, or awk- 
wardly executed, is a fpecies of writing which wiil al- 
ways be well received. It introduces us to familiarity 
with perfons whom we are difpoied to revere, and ex- 
hibits our inftruclors in the interelling light of ac- 
quaintances and friends, Befides, when we find, by 
authenticated records of their life, that they were good 
men, we lit down to the perufal of their writings with ths 
xtioft favourable difpcfitions for deriving benefit from what 

a 2 we 



Xll THE 1IFE OF MR JAMES MEIKLE. 

we read, and are edified by the pleafing perfualion that 
they lived as they wrote, and felt on their own hearts 
the ineftimable value of that religion which they fo 
clearly teach, and fo warmly recommend. 

The writings of few men require information refpeft- 
mg their author more than thofe of Mr Meikle. They 
conlifi chiefly of fhort, detached effays, written in hafte, 
and commonly finifeed at one fitting } or are a record 
of the impreffions made on his mind at the inftant by 
the objects with which he was furrounded, or the inci- 
dents which had occurred. They feldom affume a di- 
dacllc form, or profefs a regular difcuffion of any par- 
ticular point : they rather exprefs the author's own 
perfaafion and feelings on the fubjecl, the refolutions of 
duty which, under their influence, he formed, or the 
hopes by which he was animated. A knowledge of the 
man becomes neceffary, therefore, not only to enable us 
to appreciate his merits as a writer, but to qualify us 
for undemanding many paffages of his writings, or at 
leaft for entering fully into his fentiments and feelings. 

How far the following account of Mr Meikle will 
contribute cither to the entertainment or the edification 
of thofe who may be pleafed to perufe it, the writer of 
it is uttablti to predict. He can fay, however, wi:h 
confidence, that he has not been deficient in his in-; 
quiries respecting his author, and that although in feve- 
ral inftances his diligence has been unfuccefsful, in 
others it has been rewarded by difcoveries which he 
hopes have not been unprofitable to himfelf, and which 
may, through the divine hleiTing, be ufeful to others. 
He has prefumed to arrirm nothing at random, or on 
mere conjecture ^ and the principal fource from which 
bis information has been drawn/ is a variety cf memo- 

rand? 



THE LIFE OF MR JAMES MEIKLE. X1U 

xandums and loofe papers found in the author's own 
repoiitories. 

Mr James Meikle was born at Carnwath, a village in 
the upper part of Clydefdale, on the 19th of May O. S, 
1730. It was his uniform cuftom, during at leaft the 
laft forty years of his life, to obferve the anniverfary of 
his birth •, and the 30th of May N. S. appears frequent- 
ly, both in his publifhed and manufcript papers, as a 
feafon in which he fought retirement from the world, 
and devoted the hours which he could command from 
buiinefs to grateful recollections of the care of Provi- 
dence, to the review of his pail life, to meditation on 
death, and preparation for eternity. This method of 
commemorating the day of his entrance on life bejtiftly 
confiders as more fuited to the condition of a creature 
who is born to die, and who expects to live after death,, 
than the methods which are more generally in ufe \ and 
he recommends it to others, from the conviction that It 
had not been without profit to himfelf. 

His father, Mr George Meikle, appear? to have beers 
a very pious, but a very poor man. He practifed at 
Carnwath as a furgeon and druggift •, but his buiinefs, 
at that period, in a poor and thinly-peopled country, 
cannot be fuppofed to have yielded fuch profits as to 
enable him with eafe to fupport a family of ten chil- 
dren, the greater part of whom were delicate, and cut 
off before their aged parent. Befides, the fmali favings 
of a very infufficient income were unprofitable wafied in 
honeft, but unfuecefsful attempts to obtain poflefnon of 
a confiderable property in the neighbourhood of Hamil* 
ton, of which he appears to have been rightful heir ^ 
and debts were contracted which bore very heavy en 
Hm in the decline of life, when the neceflities of his, 
s 3 family 



XIV THE LIFE OF MR JAMES MEIKLE. 

family increafed, and, through his frequent incapacity to 
vliit patients at a diftance, his means of fupphping them 
diminiihed, It cannot now ferve any valuable purpofc 
to be more particular en this fubject. The eftate is in 
the indifputable poffemon of another family, although 
the greater part of the titles are fliil in the pofleffion of 
Mr Meikle's defendants. It is only proper to re- 
mark, that various attempts were made by his fon to 
recover it, which excited hopes, and iffued in difappoint- 
mentSj to which the accurate reader of his writings will 
ob ferve many allufions •, and to add, that the lofs- or 
ab ft r action of an efiential paper defeated all his at- 
tempts, tillit became too late to diiturb the poffeffor by 
challenging his right, 

James, the fubjecl of this Memoir, was the fifth child 
of the family, three fons and a daughter having been 
born before him. When reviewing the care of Provi- 
dence over him, he remarks, that his life during infancy 
was often in jeopardy, and piouily adopts the Pfalmiil's 
words, " I am as a wonder unto many •, my praife ill all 
be continually of thee." At the age of four, he narrow- 
ly efcaped periming in a deep well into which he had 
fallen ; and befides, he fuffered fo feverely, and was fo 
enfeebled by the fm all- pox, mealies, chincough, and other 
dileafes incident to childhood, that it was not till the 
ninth year of his age that he could be fent to fchool, 
Of this early period of his life, he obferves, in one of his 
papers, that he can recollect little, except that his parents 
had taught him to pray twice a-day \ that he thought 
even his childifli games would not go right with him, 
if he fhould neglect his prayers 3 and that therefore, when 
it occurred to him at play that he had omitted them, he 
fometimes broke off from his companions, and after ha- 
ving 



THE LIFE 07 

ving faid them, returned .ience to 

ami;: He expreffes his gratitude to bis 

for their inftroftions, and warmly recommends it to 

others to te:. idren to pray; but notwith- 

.ding this iymptorn, as fome would ftyle it, of early 

piety, produced by their means, he iiates it as the con* 

tton of his matur-: nent, that he had then no 

it notions of d; 4i I was taught to pray," 

M and prayed, when I knew not what prater 

was*, but now I not give ever prayer fox the 

rhool he made cc - . i icy in his edu- 

cation, till the death o: A new teacher 

eeded, who does not appear to have been equally at- 
;ve to his pupil, for a reaion which muft always have 
gre:.: -:;iih men, becaufe his parents were 

-jsloyment was found for him than the 
j-iis of the day : " I was much toiled by running 
erra: ch I was neceditated to do through poverty." 

When he afterwards reflected en this period of his life, 
he concluded with Solomon, that i; childhood and youth 
vanity," and deplored the waite of it in thoughtleff- 
nefe and fin* " It can afford me," he fays, " nothing 
but melancholy reflections, did not the blood of Jeius 
Chriit cleanfe from all fin. How many months were 
fpent without one ferious thought of God, or one prayer 
to the God of my life ! In what fcenes of vanity and 
fcllv did I fpend my youth ! God and my own heart 
were and are confeious of as much fin as might c: 
me, though I was preferved from any grofs outbreak- 
ings. When I look back, this is a proper confeiUon 
for me, " Lord, thou knoweft my folly, and my fins are 

not 



XVI THE LIFE OF MR JAMES MEIKLE. 

not hid from thee. Remember not the errors of my 
youth, but pardon mine iniquity, for it is great." 

After he had arrived at the age of thirteen or four- 
teen, he began to relifh religion more than ever he had 
done before. Three things in particular are remarked 
by him concerning himfelf at this period. Fir/}, That, 
though then young, he had conceived a warm regard for 
the holy fcriptures, and loved the duty of fecret prayer, 
" I retired by myfelf, and read, and prayed ; and put on 
refolutions to perform this heavenly duty oftener than 
twice a- day. So from the Pfalmift's refolution I copied 
mine, " As for me, I will call upon God, and the Lord 
{hall fave me. Evening and morning, and at noon, will 
I pray and cry aloud, and he fhall hear my voice.'* 
Secondly, That the Sabbath began to become fweet to 
him. a From the inft ruction of my parents, the ex- 
ample of Chriftian neighbours, and, might I add, the 
grace of God within me, I had a profound veneration 
for the Sabbath, and was difpleafed with the leaft pro* 
fanation of it. O that it were fo dill ! but I muft fay 
it with fhame, I have not lived up to the love of mine 
efpoufais, the kindnefs of my youth." "Thirdly, That he 
was often employed in religious meditation, and found 
inexpreffible pleafure in it. " Sometimes I would have 
wondered to find one whittling alone by the way, think- 
ing he had better be meditating on divine things, as I 
did : This fometimes was my happy exercife." In what 
manner, however, the gracious change which about this 
time took place on him was effected, nothing has been 
found among his papers di-ftinftly to (hew : but from 
fome expreffions employed by him, there is reafon ta 
conclude that he had no remarkable experience of legal 

terror* 



THE LIFE OF MR JAM-ES ?.IEIKLE< XVII 

terror. " Same," fays he, " are overcome by the f'.veet- 
nefs of religion into a love with it, as Zaccheus was 
drawn by Churl's charming voice, fo v that without 
dread or delay he received him joyfully. " Thy word 
was found of me, and I did eat it, and it became the 
rejoicing of my heart." 

He was now in his fifteenth year, and, as he expreffes 
it, M grown to the age of thinking and cbufing for him- 
felf," when, for the firif time, he went u from choice" 
to hear afermon by one of the minifters who had ibme 
years before feparated from the communion of the efla- 
bliihed church. The fermon was remarkably bleiied to 
him \ he was led to inquire into the grounds of the 
Secefficn ; and his inquiries iffued in an attachment 
which continued undiminifhed through life. " From this 
time, being about fifteen or fifteen, I heard none'elfe, 
and at laft joined the SecelTion ) and alas 1 that the in- 
creasing defections of the church of Scotland, for which 
my heart trembles,- mould make me full approve of my 
procedure." 

The following year, an event of a very affiiclive kind 
took place, which appears to have been eminently ufeful 
to him. The hand of God inflicted a he^vy ltroke on 
the family, in the death of their elcfeft fon, William, 
at the age of twenty-five. He had been early religious ; 
bet having been educated as a fttfeeon, he fcon removed 
from under the immediate injpection of his parents, and 
ferved for feme years a gentleman of that profeffion in 
Dunfe, who made religion no part of his concern : and 
the confequer.ee was, that his early iropreffions were 
greatly effaced by the converfation and example of thofe 
with whom he had intercourfe. Having at length form- 
ed the reJblution of going to fea 3 he went to Carnwath 

to 



XV111 THE LIFE OF MR JAMES MEIKLE. 

to take farewell of his parents. His ilay having been 
protracted beyond his expectation or wifn, they remark- 
ed with grief the fad change which had taken place 
during his abfence, and employed all the influence of 
their prayers, and of their expostulations with him, for 
his reformation. For fome time all was without effect. 
Providence, however, continuing by various means to 
throw obilacles in the way of his going abroad, he was 
at length brought to fee the hand of Heaven in it, and 
led to more ferious thoughts than before. " Ephraim 
is an heifer ; but God paffed over ier fair neck \ fo," 
fays his brother, " it fared with him. He began to 
confider his ways, to relifti religion, to be confcientious 
in the duty of prayer , and not only was his converfation 
but converfe changed, to the no fmall joy of his friends. '* 
After this happy change, he began to affitt his father in 
his bufinefs, and promifed to be the joy and the fupport 
of his declining years. But the ways of God are often 
xnyflerious. He was feized with a nervous fever, which 
in the fhort fpace of eight days laid him filent in death, 
on the 19th of April 1746. " Joy and grief,'' his 
brother remarks, ''were mingled on this occaiionj grief 
at his death, but joy that he died in fuch a hopeful con- 
dition." He adds, " The converfation and prayers of his 
Chriilian acquaintances who vifited him during his ill- 
nefs, made an imprefiion on my mind, which I hope wiU 
never be effaced. " 

The (hock which this difpenfation gave to his aged 
parents may be more eafily conceived than expreiied. 
They had buried fix fons, befides a daughter, and in the 
grave with the eldeft, they now buried their hopes of 
comfortable fupport in tfie decline of life. Tames, their 
only remaining Ton, was in the 17th year of his age 5 

promifing 



THE LIFE OF MR JAMES MEIKLE. XIX 

promifing enough indeed, but unprovided for, and inca- 
pable of affifting the family in their ftraits. It had for 
fome time been his defire to profecute his ftudies with a 
view to the holy miniftry ) but the fituation of his pa- 
rents did not furnilh him with the means. After fpend- 
incr the fummer in contrivances how to proceed, and in 
the perufal of fuch books as were within his reach, he 
formed the refolution of going to Edinburgh, in the be- 
ginning of winter, along with his mother, ivhofe prefence 
was neceffary there on account of the law- (bit formerly 
mentioned. On his arrival, he engaged a private teacher 
to affilt him in his ftudies, who, for reafons known to 
himfelf, after receiving his money, chofe within a few 
weeks fuddenly to leave the place \ and being unable to 
engage another, he found it neceffary to return to Cam- 
wath, leaving his mother behind him, and difappointed 
for the prefent in his favourite object. 

A greater calamity fucceeded. He had not been long 
at home, before his father was feized with a violent fit 
of afthma, which carried him off in a few days, in the 
month of February 17483 and before he had opportunity 
to inform his mother, and elder filter who had gone to 
vifit her, of his illnefs. 

The mattered remains of the family, deprived of their 
Iaft fupport, after {pending fome time in unavailing grief, 
and melancholy reflections on the deftitute condition to 
which they were reduced, removed to Edinburgh before 
Whitfunday j " but with what money," fays Mr 
Meikle, " will fcarcely be believed \ with little more 
than fufficient to pay carriage, and bear our charges by 
the way." God, however, raifed up a friend to aid them 
in their neceffity. " A gentlewoman who lived next 
door to us, who had been a daughter of many afflictions, 



$£ THE LIFE OF MR JAMES MEIKLE. 

but to whom they had been fanctified, and who fpent 
much of her time in prayer, (bowed us ho lictle kindnefs." 
By the humane attentions of this lady, and the induftry 
of Mrs Meikle and her elder daughter, who fpan or 
fewed as they found employment, the few wants of the 
family were fupplied during the fummer. 

But Tames had now entered the 19th year of his age, 
with little education, and without an occupation by 
which he could earn his daily bread. His mind was ftill 
directed towards the holy miniftry, and eagerly bent on 
acquiring the education which he deemed neceffary as a 
preparation for it \ but Providence feemed to refufe his 
fervices in the gofpel, by defeating all his attempts to 
enter the univerfity. For fome time he flattered him- 
fejf with the hope of obtaining a burfary^ or, as it is ftyled 
in England, an exhibition ; and he confidered it as 
already fecured by the generous exertions of a gentle- 
man who took an intereft in his aifairsy when an unex- 
pected objection was ftarted againft him, which blafted 
all his profpecls. Party- prejudices were ftrong at that 
time againft thofe who had feparated from the eftablifh- 
ed church, and he was refufed the burfary becaufe he 
was a Seceder. 

Defpairing now of getting forward in his education, 
and yet unwilling to abandon his favourite purfuit, he 
felt afhamed of his iituation, in the 19th year of his 
age, poor, in health, and yet doing nothing for his own 
maintenance } and he confeffes, that when any old ac- 
quaintance inquired how he was employed, he often will 
not what to fay. Yet he was not abfolutely idle. " All 
the fummer," he fays, " I fpent amongft my books in a 
melancholy folitude, and contracted acquaintance with 
very few," As a fpecies of recreation from the feverer 

ftudies 



THE LIFE OF MR JAMES MEIXLE. XXi 

ftudies in which he was engaged, he amufed himfelf with 
an attempt to verfify the book of Job, and proceeded as 
far as the twentieth chapter-, but, ''* on a iecond reading I 
found it," he fays, " fo rlat, and tending rather to obfcure 
than to iliuftrate the beauties of that noble book, that I 
never tranfcribed it. Notwithstanding, I found a double 
advantage from my labour j for, firft, I fpent many hours 
with pleafure, which I might other wife have fpent ia 
repining thoughts at the providence of God 5 and, fecond- 
ly, I grew much better acquainted with the bock of 
Job, a bock greatly adapted to my fituation, than I 
could have grown by an ordinary reading." It appears, 
indeed, that the pleafure he found at this period ia 
writing of divine things in verfe, gave occafion to that 
cuitom of verifying his meditations, in which he per- 
fevered to the very clofe of life, and which has produced 
a number of metrical performances which is truly alio- 
milling s , many hundreds o: poems, all on religious fub- 
jects, and fufFxient to fill fix or feven volumes of the fize 
of the prefent, being found amongit his papers. 

This melancholy period of extreme poverty, difap- 
pcintment, and anxious.fufpenfe, continued with little 
variation during the whole of the enfuing year. Provi- 
dence deprived the family of the friend whofe humane 
attentions have been already mentioned. Befides, after 
their expectations of a fpeedy and favourable termination 
of the law r -fuit had been considerably railed, they were 
dalhed at once to the ground by a deciilon which put 
their hopes of relief from that quarter more diilant than 
_ ever. " Like the finning Jews," he fays, " w T e expe-fled 
much, but it came to little 5 for it w T as entirely cut ofF, 
till better proof could be brought that it was not pre- 
scribed." So low, indeed, were their circurr.Ptance?, that 

b at 



sxn the life of mr jaiizz meikle. 

at WLitfunday 1 749, they found it a matter of the greater! 
difficulty to procure a decent lodging of two apartments, 
becaufe they could neither find caution to the landlord, 
nor, as is cuftomarv when caution cannot be found, lav 
down one half of the rent. Yet when they were brought 
low, God helped them. They were enabled to endure 
their afflictions -without murmuring at the divine dif- 
penfations •, and befides, they were feaLnably relieved 
by the fympathizing liberality of fome good Christians, 
■who, Mr Meikle remarks, increafed the favour by the 
truly delicate and Chriftian manner in which they con- 
ferred it. 

With regard to himfelf, Mr Meikle obferves, that 
although he wss unable to enter the univerlity, he found 
means occasionally to receive in ft ruction from private 
teachers ; and that the adverfity of this period of his life 
■was blefTed to him for fpiritual good. He exprevTes his 
warmeft gratitude to God for three things in particular : 
flrft, tliat his proud fpirit, which at firft rofe againft the 
idea of dependence on the charity of others, was brought 
down to fubmiilion and thankfulnefs 5 fecondly, that 
amidfi: his difficulties, he was enabled to refill felicita- 
tions to go to the Indies, where he would have been 
removed from the means of grace, and Where the friend 
who urged him to go was foon cut off by the unhealthi- 
fcefs of the climate 5 and, thirdly, that when he met with 
fome old acquaintances who had come to town to ftudy 
at the univerfity, he was enabled to hold his peace, 
neither envying their profperity, nor daring to difpute 
the conduct of Providence towards himfelf. His foul 
profpered when outw-ard things were adverfe. He took 
' much pleafure in prayer, and ftatedly performed the 
duty four times a day : " This," adds he, " I fay, not 

out 



The life of tin ja:.ies meiKle. xxui 

out of vain glory, but to iVir up thofe who have much 
leifure and opportunity to abound in this delightful and 
profitable exercife." And he remarks, as the remit of 
his own happy experience at this time, " that fan&ined 
affliSicn, the chailifement of our heavenly Father, is no 
final] mercy to them that are rightly exercifed thereby ; 
that it is honied afffi&ion which brings the foul nearer 
to God ; and that (alluding to Hof. ii. 14.) it is God's 
way, in the time of melancholy fciitude, to fpeak com- 
fortably to the foul." Yet his fpiritual profperiry was 
not without allay j for he complains bitterly of the mo- 
tions of fin within him, and remarks with grief that for 
feme part of this time he did not live fo near to God< as 
Le ought. 

At the beginning of the winter/ 1749, finding his 
inability to enter the literary claries of the univerfity as 
great as ever, and fatisfied that it w^as his duty to fub- 
xnit to what appeared to be the will of Providence, and 
take fome meafures for his future maintenance, he form- 
ed the refolution of commencing the ftudy of medicine : 
yet not, he fays, as his ultimate objeel, but as a means 
of helping him forward, if it (hould be the will of God, 
by the profits of his practice, in his main dexi^n of enter- 
ing into the facred office. The different profelfors of 
medicine, to whom it appears his father had been known, 
diiplayed great generofity in giving him liberty to attend 
their lectures without payment of the cuflomary fees \ 
yet even with this advantage, he could not avoid con- 
trading fome final! debts which his circumflances did 
not enable him for feveral years to difcharge. 

As a Undent of medicine, he now 7 entered on a new 

fcene, and became expofed to temptations from which 

ke had hitherto been free. " I was afraid of forgetting 

b 2 God 



XXIV THE LIFE OF MR JAMES MEIKLE. 

God my Saviour, as I was to change my favoary folitude 
for a correfpondence with an indifferent fort of youths ' 7 
but I Oil! kept up the form of religion as ufual, what 
ef the power I dare not fay." " My fellow-ftudents, 
fome of whom were gentlemen of fortune, were obliging 
to me, and gave me aceefs at pleafure to their books ; 
though other wife their company was by no means to be 
"defired, as they were accuuomed to fvvear in converfa- 
tion." — He add* afterwards, " I was grieved at the 
oaths I heard, for my cotfeience was then tender : O 
that it were tender ftijl !" 

Plow long Mr Meikle fxudied medicine, and when he 
commenced practice as a furgeon, cannot be afcertained, 
gs his papers for fome years about this period have un- 
happily fallen by. It is probable that he removed to 
Lis native village of Carnwath towards the clofe of the 
year J750, where he continued to aft as a furgeon till 
the fpring of 1738. Two loofe papers have been found, 
from which this is concluded. The one, written in the 
Latin language, and fMed Petit'w ad Dei/m, 1750, leads 
to the conclufion. that when he wrote it, he had formed 
the refolution of praftifing as a temporary expedient, but 
had not yet carried it into effect, It is, as far as its 
meaning can now bs collected, to the following efreft : 
<; Confcious of fin, deferving and fearing divine wrath, 
but hoping for falvation through the blood of Chrlft, I 
have formerly made, and now again make known to 
thee, O Gcd ! the inmoft thoughts and defires of my 
heart \ and trading that thou wilt graciouCy anfwer, 
intreat thee to hear and grant thefe my reqnefls. 1. 
Look on me with favour, for the fake of Jefus Chriil 
my Lord, in whom thou art well pleafed, and preferve 
rne from every thing, fecretor public, which is cffenfive 

to 



THE. LIFE OF MR JAMES MEIKLE. XXV 

to thee. 2. As I will, through thy good providence, 
have airived at majoxity at the commencement oi the 
enfuing funnier, enable me to recollect with lively gra- 
titude thy pari care of me, and profper me in what I 
prcpoie at Carnwath, that it may be fubfervient to my 
main dengn. 3. * * * 4. Deal with me as it pleafes 
thee, in refpecl cf riches, and all other temporal good 
things j only grant me a place amonglt thy fan curled, 
ones, and I am content, 5. I molt earneflly requeft 
that I may be honoured to ferve thee in the goipel, 
preaching the words of truth and eternal Hie to my 
fellow-finners all the days of my life. Hear me, I pray 
thee, and anfwer me in thy time."" The other paper, 
which contains a ccnfefiion cf fins, and a dedication o~ 
himfelf anew to God, is dated Dec. 15. 175", and con- 
tains this petition : M 1 feek thy direction in rry 
and in my prefent views. O grant thy blefl lie I 

give the glory of all to thee !" from which it is c 
jectured, that he had begun buimefs as a furgeon, wl. 
his views were fall directed to the minifiry as his grea.^ 
aim in life. 

The reference which has juft now been made to tl 
papers fuggefls the propriety of remarking, that it wai 
Mr Rleikle's cudomoccafionally to fet apart a day, or a 
part of a day, to folemn meditation, {elf-examinaticn, and 
prayer j and that en fuch cccalions he wrote down, as a. 
means cf fixing his mind, the heads of what at the time 
principally engaged his thoughts. This he did not 
merely when at home, but as often as he could Grid op- 
portunity, with fufficient fecrecy, when abroad. Thus, 
during the years he was at fea, we find him repeatedly 
engaged in this manner, in the fields near Plymouth, en' 
a retired part of the rock of Gibraltar, in a :^iz?i be- 

b 3 twees 



2s.XVi THE LIF.£ Oj MK JAIVJES MilK 

tween Leghorn and Pifa in Italy, and in a folit; 
of the iiland of St Helena. Many of thefe loofe papers 
have been found, which ic would fwell this account of 
him too much to tran-fcrlte. Part of -one of them, how* 
ever, is here fabjoined as a fpecimen, and becaufe, after 
thofe which have been referred to, it is the firft diftinft 
notice of him, after his removal from Edinburgh to Caro- 
wath. It runs thus : 

61 Under a fenfe of my fins and unmerited mercies, I 
defire through grace, in Sincerity and humility of foul, to 
approach to the Author of all my mercies, and to lay 
before thee, O merciful Father ! all my defigns, defiling 
thy divine direction. 

" And, in the fir ft place, I confefs mine own fin?, the 
fins of my family and people, the fins of church and ft ate. 
I defire to be humbled under my natural pronenefs to 
evil and averfion from good ; for my many finful 
thoughts, which thou, O Lord, knoweft j for my wrong 
conceptions of the great Jehovah, and the fmallnefe of my 
holy fear when in his prefence, calling on him before 
whom all the earth (hould tremble. I alio defire to be 
humbled for my limiting Cod, as if he were net Al- 
mighty \ for not placing all my faith and hope on hiaa 
alone, but on appearances and probabilities ; for my 
ingratitude to God for his many matchlefs mercies to 
me in feeding and clothing me, and giving me favour in 
the eyes of men with whom I had to do. Providence 
has never failed me, but ay fupplied me y yet in the 
time of profperity I finned, and joined with finners in 
their follies, which now I lament, and defire to be hum- 
Lied for \ as alfo under the ftrcke of my younger filter's 
death. O to learn the language of thy rod ! 

l J O Lord ! I lament my detention frcm thy ordi- 
nances-; 



TELE LIFE C7 MR JAMES MilKLE. XXVII 

fiances * *, and O that thou wouldft caft my lot (b (not 
that I prescribe to God) that I may ferve thee in thy 
temple day and night ! I defire to be humbled for all 
my prevailing lulls and pafiionsrj for my fpiritual pride, 
ignorance cf the things of God, barrernefs under the 
gofpel, lukewarmnefs about the things of Ch rill ; and 
for my careleunefs about religious duties, fo that while 
the love of Chrift mould conilrain me. cuflom leads me. 
Ah ! that ever I ihould doubt the good will cf him that 
dwelt in the bufh, and forget the day when he heard my 
cry, and delivered me cut o/ the hand cf my fierce afflic- 
tions, manifefting his mighty power f . I defire to be 
humbled for my earthly mindednefs and my dt fires after 
temporal things, riches, honour, and glory, which perifh 
and pafs away. I defire to be humbled for my breach of 
former engagements, and for that great mountain of fins 
accumulated on me lince the lafl time I was before thee 
in this manner. " * * * 

u And now I defire to lay before thee my petitions. 
And Hrd of all, O to be daily getting nearer and nearer 
thee } to be growing more and more acquainted with 
lovely Jefus, the light of the higher houfe, increafing 
more and more in grace, becoming more and mere like 
thee, and daily lefs conformed to the world ; to be de- 
lighting more and more in fpiritual things, given more 
and more to meditation on the glory to be revealed, 
loving him more and more who loved me ! O to be 

delighting 

* Carnwath is at a great diilance from Davie's Dyke in the 
parifh of Cambufnethan, where Mr Meikle then attended public 
wcrfhip; and the ncceffary calls of bufinefs often prevented his 
attendance, even when the di (lance andaveather would not have 
«lone it. 

*r He had lately before bern dangercuflv ill ; and, befides, had 
laboured under great deje&ion of fcou\ 



XXVlll THE LIFE OF MR JAMES MEIKXE. 

delighting in God all the day long, living in his fear z% 
before him always, learning more and more fubmiffion 
to his difpofals in providence, and more and more per- 
fuaded of the rectitude of his will, the equity of his law, 
the longnefs of his patience, and his care of his own. O 
to get the better of prevailing fin, and that which eafily 
befets me. 

" O Lord ! I lay another petition before thee, and 
beg thou wilt hear it. O let me come into thy fervice, 
(in the miniftry), and breath my laft under thy colours, 
a volunteer \ and to this end I beg a bleffing en all my 
iludies. O Lord! hear me. 

" Alfo, I lay before thee my defign of court Pnip "with 
M. R. If (he be thine, one in whom the fear of God is, 
may (he be mine, if for thy glory and my good. Grant 
me direction in this matter, and give me favour in her 
eyes *• 

" O profper me in my bufinefs ! Thy blefiing be on 
my endeavours for the health and cure of thy creatures. 
Let never the greed of money get a hold of my heart ; 
keep me from covetoufnefs, and all wrong ends in follow- 
ing my bufinefs. Blefs, Lord, the work of my hands. 

ci May thy bounty fo provide for me, as that I may 
not harm the world, or die in their debt. I hope thou 
,wilt hear. 

" Never let any apprentice or fervant dwell in my 
houfe, who (hall never dwell with thee ', and let not the 
love of money make me chufe the workers ofj iniquity to 
be with me. 

" O look on Zion, Zion that is thine own ! Remem- 

4 ber 

* The death of this young woman feme time after gave him 

great diftreis. He fpeaks afterwards with the fulleit confidence of 

her piety. 



THE LIFE OF MR JAMES MEIKLE. XX1& 

ber thy promife, O God !' and do her good. Heal her 
great breach * for thy name's fake. 

" Caufe peace, concord, and love, to be in my 
family like a little river, and thy fear like a mighty 
itream. 

'■ Now, O Lord, in the hope that thou wilt hear, I 
lay all my petitions before thee. Chufe what thou wilt, 
call away what thou wilt, I will be content. 1 commit 
myfelf to thee. 1 take thee as before, for my God and 
Father, for my Saviour, for my Sanctitier for ever. To- 
all my former engagements I again fubfcribe, begging 
that thou wouldll provide for me, fo that I may attend 
thine ordinances. O hear ! And 1 defire in truth, O 
terrible Jehovah ! to call thefe heavens over my head, 
the hills and mountains about me, the growing grafs and 
corn, to be withcffes, that I this day fubfcribe with my 
hand to be, through good report and bad report, thine, 
even thine. Amen, amen. So be it. 

" J u h J 75 2 - J A:IES Meikle." 

Ir is evident from this paper, that a year and a half 
after he had begun buflnefs as a furgeon, his original 
refolution of employing his buflnefs only as a temporary 
expedient to help him forward to the rmniitry, remained 
unaltered. Nor did he finally abandon this defign till 
the year 1763, fome time after his return from the navy. 
This was the conftant fubjecl of his prayers*, this exci- 
ted him to application to his buflnefs j to this his private 
fludies were uniformly directed. Poverty diftreffed him, 
chiefly becaufe it obftructed his progrefs ; fuccefs in 
bufinefs elated him, only as it revived his languifhing 

hopes 

* The divifion which had lately before taken place in the 
Sece^on. 



XXX. THE LIFE OF MR JAMES MEIKLE* 

hopes of attaining the fummit of his ambition. His 
heart was in divinity, while he praclifed furgery. It 
efcaped not the obfervation of his paftor, the Rev. 
David Horn, that he had never feen a perfcm take {q 
little pleafure in difcouriing on fubje&s connected with 
his own line of buiinefs \ and he himfelf remarks it as 
an evidence of the care of God, that, notwithflanding 
his eagernefs to acquire by his buiinefs, as a furgeon, 
what would enable him to devote his time to divinity 
and the previous fludies, he was never permitted to ex- 
ceed in his charges for medicine or attendance, in-order 
the fooner to gain his object. 

It may here be as proper, therefore, as any where 
elfe, to inquire into the ideas which he had of that office 
which he was fo anxious to fill \ and into the motives 
which excited him fo eagerly to defire it. Happily two 
papers have been found in his hand-writing which ferve 
to illufhate his views. The fir ft is dated Carnwath, 
July 20. 1755, and begins thus : " O Lord ! confciou3 
of the levity of mind 1 am vexed with, my foon weary- 
ing in religious exercifes, and my great unfitnefs for the 
weighty work of the mini (try, I defiie to be humbled, 
and to implore thy kindnefs, and in the iincerity of my 
heart to lay before thee my motives and my refla- 
tions." After itating various important confederations 
which moved him to defire to be employed in the 
work of the minidry, he adds thefe memorable words : 
" As I feel a conilant oppofition in me to all that is 
holy and divine, I defire to be chained, as it were, by 
office to religion, and by a clofe exercife therein, and, 
breathing after communion with God, to get, through 
his grace, the antipathy in my heart again!! what is 
good di ptiled, as far as my militant Hate can allow of." 

His 



THE LIFE 07 MR JAMES MEIKLE. XXII 

i 

His refulutions are, that if God Oiould put him into the 
mi: iftry, he would, through good and bad report, fellow 
rift ; would be willing to be the meaneft of his fer- 
vantsj would not take it ill though he were defpifed, 
reproached, perfecuted for ChriiVs fake j and was 
determined to preach, not for vulgar applaufe, but to 
advance his glory, and to promote the welfare of fc 
M I lay my account, n he add*, " with hardships, incon- 
veniences, troubles, and Blockings from the world, and 
the men of the world. Nor is it in view of profit or 
honour that I defire to change my occupation, for by 
kind providence I am now as well as I can wi(h \ but I 
would fain be poor for Cbrift's Take, who, though he 
was rich, for my fake became poor, that I through his 
poverty might be made rich. I (hall never be furprifed 
to find all winds blow again ft me, and every thing 
blafted in my temporal e'tate : it (hall be my joy, if the 
raufe of God and the gofpel proiper in my hands. And, 
illy, I refolve to be boneft to the truit committed to 
me, and in all thing-, to act not only as before thee, 
but as one that mult give an account of my ftewardlhip, 
that I may do it with joy.' 1 He concludes : " Receive 
rrate into thy mighty treafury, O Lord ! and grant 
my request : and I beg of thee that thou wouldfi blefs 
me with a found judgement, clear inlight into the things 
of God, a ftror.g Memory, and with every faculty to fit 
me for fo great a work."" 

The other paper, which was written feme years after, 
confxfls of two parts, — the one, a lift of all the fcripturai 
qualifications of a gofpel-miniiler, arranged in order, 
that by it he might be guided in felf-examination and 
prayer, — the other, a feries of advices refpecling the 
conduit proper to be purfued by a minifter of the go- 



XXXll THE LIFE OF MR JAMES MEIKLE. 

fpel, written with the evident intention of affifting his 
own mind in weighing the importance and duties of the 
office to which he afpired. As tllefe advices not only 
(hew how confcientious he was in his views, but contain 
hints which may be profitable to thofe whom God has 
put into the miniftry, they are here fubjoined. 

" Contract not much carnal acquaintance. 

" Learn to be abufed without becoming angry. 

" Meddle not much w ? ith the affairs of this life. 

" Argue coolly, and from confcience, not for 
victory. 

° Affect not a fhew of fanclimony before men. 

" Be not alhamed of piety in any company. 

" Whatever elfe thou readeft, read a dcuble por-' 
tion in the fcriptures of truth. 

" Shun familiarity with the men of the ivorld, elfe 
celeftial truths, as uttered by thee, w 7 ill be contemned. 

" Care not much about thine own reputation, fo 
truth and the go fpel fuffer not. 

" Learn daily more of Chrift and more of thyfelf, 
elfe thy other iludies will profit little. 

" Seek not great things for thyfelf, feek not great 
approbation, great' applaufe, great conveniences, or a 
great income *, but feek great things for Chrift, feek to 
him great glory, many converts, and much fruits of 
righteoumefs, 

4t Coniider the precioufnefs of fouls, the value of fal- 
vation, the weight of the facred charge, the terrors of 
the Almighty, the aw T ful day of account, and thine own 
utter inability, — then (halt thou have no vain confidence, 
but depend on God alone. 

" Pleafe all men in the truth, but wound not the 
truth to pka r e any. 

« Set 



THE LIFE OF MR JAMES MEIKLE. XXX111 

H Set thy affections ori things above, fo fhall fpiri- 
tua] things be thy delight, and not thy burden. 

" In company, always ftudy to drop fomething for 
edification, and fo in a manner preach occafionaiiy, as 
well as (tatedly. 

" Be much with God in fecret, fo fliall God be 
with thee in public. 

" See that the carriage of every one in thy family- 
be a pattern to all obfervers, and not matter of reproach, 
to the joy of enemies. 

" Let thy charge be continually on thy mind, and 
not only pray with them in public, and from houfe to. 
houfe, but carry them to thy clofet, and pray for them 
in private. 

." Negle6t not to vifit them at all proper times, but 
efpecially embrace thofe golden opportunities, licknefs 
and affliction. 

+ " Have a fellow-feeling with the fufferings of all 
thy flock. 

" Let thy converfation be uniform ; and what thou 
preachelt on Sabbath, praclife through the week. 

" Not only prefs charity on the wealthy, but let 
thy example, according to thy power, (hew the way, 

" Rather lend thine ear to reproaches than ap- 
plaufes : the firft may let us fee fome foible or failing 
with which we are chargeable j but the laft is very apt 
to kindle felf-conceit, of which every one has enough. 

M A 61 the Chriftian even in eating and drinking \ 
and be not, when at a feaft, though temperate at other 
times, a gluttdn or a wine-bibber. 

"With refpecl to thy charge, confider that thou 
art made the fteward of a family, and therefore muft, 
feeing the great Mailer allows it> provide food for all* 

q flelk 



-JXXXiV THE LIFE OF MR JAMES MEIKLE. 

Seih for the fxrong, and milk for the weak. See that 
the wo r (hip of God be fet up in all families, and per- 
formed twice a-day, and that parents in ft met their chil- 
dren In private prayer, to fay grace at meat, and to 
keep the Sabbath. See that the riling generation under 
thy care grow in knowledge, and be well acquainted 
with the fcriptures. Be well acquainted with the know- 
ledge and converfation of every one that is admitted to 
the Lord's table. 

" Keep an exacl lift or catalogue of thy charge \ 
who is pious or profligate, knowing or ignorant, in 
affluence or exigence, in health or lick } and read it 
often. 

44 Give a pleafant ear to the commendations of 
©triers, but always frown away the friend that would 
commend thee to thy face. 

" Be fparing in producing fpecimens of thy learn- 
ing, or criticifms on the words in the original, efpecially 
before the unlearned ; for a nice grammarian may be 
^ut a novice in the gofpel. 

u In preaching, aim at God's glory and the good 
of fouls ; and then, without deviating from that rule, 
pleafe all men as much as poflible. 

M Let thy fermons be always the fruit of much 
iiudy and application \ and never dare to ferve God or 
his people with that which coil thee nought. 

if Never be bigotted to thine own opinions, or in- 
terpretations of particular texts, left, in eftablilhing 
them, thou be feeking after thine own fame ; but if ths 
thoughts of others be as orthodox and conlonant to the 
analogy of faith, if it be neeefiary for peace's fake, ac- 
quiefce in them. 

" Never fhew a fondnefs for new doctrines, which, 
t among 



THE LIFE OF MR JAME3 MEIKLE. X&XV 

among Christians, are little better than new gods were 
among the Ifraelites j but contend earneiliy for the 
faith once (and but once, becaufe fufficiently) delivered 
to the faints in the fcripturcs of truth ; and ilill walk 
in that way which, though very old, is very good." 

Such were the views which Mr Meikle had formed 
to himfelf of the nature, importance, and dulies of the 
minifterial office, and of the qualifications neceiTary for 
the proper difcharge of it j and fo confcientious and up- 
right does he appear to have been in the motives by which 
he was influenced to afpire at the honour of filling it* 
Yet, though poffelTed of talents alfo, which, if properly 
cultivated, might have fitted him for great ufefulnefs in 
the church, it pleafed God, who chuies whom he will 
to carry forward the defigns of his grace, to decline 
his offers of fervice in the gofpel. Providence con- 
tinued, from the firft moment that he formed the defign, 
to hedge up his way by one means or another, fo that 
he could not find his defired path, till at length he 
abandoned the attempt, and became fatisfied that it was 
enough that it had been in his heart to build the heufc 
of the Lord. The obflrucnons which prevented his 
progrefs in the earlier part of his life, have been already 
Hated j the following narrative will fufficiently detail 
thofe which fucceeded and finally difappointed his 
hopes. 

When he began the ftudy of medicine, and afterwards 
commenced bufinefs, it was only, as has been mentioned, 
as a feccndary cbjeft. He hoped, by a few years practice, 
to lave as much money as would fupport him and the 
family duiing the courfe of his iludies for the miniftryj 
but after making the trial, he found this Impracticable. 
When he went to Carnwath, he had nothing) he was 

c 2 even 



XXXVI THE LIFE OF MR JAMES MEIELE. 

even fotnewhat in debt. His mother and two lifters 
were left behind in Edinburgh till his profpect of fuc- 
cefs Should juftify their removal \ and, in the mean- 
while, he refided for twelve months in a mean houfe, 
without a fervant, and alraolt without furniture. His 
diligence and frugality foon placed him in fuch circum- 
itances, that he ventured, in the courfe of the year 
1751, to move to a different houfe, and bring the fa- 
mily to refide with him j but the ex pence of furniture, 
the charge of the family's maintenance, the diilrefs and 
death of his younger filler, by fever e diforder with 
which he was himfelf attacked, and which for fome 
time threatened his life, together with the narrownefs 
of his income, left him, at the clofe of the year 1753, 
considerably in debt, and as incapable of proiecuting 
his favourite purpofe as at any preceding period. 

It was perhaps this concurrence of circumflances, 
adverfe in themfelves, and difcouraging with refpec~l 
to his future views, v;hich in part occaiioned a de- 
jection of Spirits under w^hich he laboured about this 
time, and which it does not appear that he ever ex- 
perienced in any great degree at any future period of 
life. The duration of his diftrefs of mind, and the 
particular manner in which it affiicled him, cannot 
now, owing to the lofs of a few leaves of a manufcript, 
be known. It appears, however, that his Spiritual 
gloom was Suddenly difpelled, and that the apprehen- 
sions of divine indignation with which he was ailailed, 
gave place to holy ferenity and joy. (i The light of 
God's countenance beamed again on my foul, as I was 
walking alone from church, and made my wandering 
thoughts return to him as their centre, and the reit 
of my foul y fo I went on rejoicing." On the review 7 



THE LIFE OF 11R JAMES MEIXLE. XXXVU 

of his condition, he found that he had himfelf only to 
blame for the diftrefs which he had fuffered j for " he 
had net prized the prefence of God which for fome 
time he renjarkably enjoyed, nOr improved thole 
happy moments as he ihould have done. He had, be- 
fides, indulged in fpiritual pride and carnal fecurity ; 
not looking narrowly left any unobferved fins might 
.provoke God to frown on him, boaiting that his moun- 
tain was eitablithed, and refting more on the bliis of en- 
joyment, than en him whom he enjoyed." 

For fome time after this, outward matters affumed 
a more promising appearance. His bufinefs increafed \ 
he was -enabled to difcharge fome troublefome debts ; 
snd he began to entertain the hope of foon abandoning 
furgery for divinity. In a little, however, the clouds 
returned after the rain 3 he was feized with trouble of 
body, and this again was facceeded by diftrefs of cir- 
cum (lances. 

Towards the end of January 1755, he felt himfelf 
one day much indifpofed, but w T ent about bufinefs a- 
ufual. M I flept," he fays, " at the houfe of an ac- 
quaintance who was always dear to me, his difcourf^ 
ever edifving, and his prayers, like one of thofe who 
are already on the borders of the better country, into 
which he foon after entered. I was very uneafy during 
the night, and Hill more fo next day \ but I got home, 
though with difficulty, net being willing to be abfent 
from my own houfe, either in licknefs or in death. I 
immediately took to bed, being feized with a bad fever* 
Now, thought I, I am perhaps to die, and mall die in 
debt, and leave my family deftitute. But what I la- 
mented moft was, that I ihould fleep in filence, and not 
ieive the Lord in the la,nd of the living, nor execute 



SXSVm THE LIFJ2 OF MR JAMES IvIEIKLE. 

the defigns which I had formed for the advancement 
of his glory. Thefe thoughts tolled my weak fpirits 
much j but my eternal concerns gave me no uneafinefs \ 
for I can fay, that at that time I could commit my 
fpirit into the hands of the God of truth, my gracious 
Redeemer, knowing in whom I had believed. Thus, 
vifited by my acquaintances, I continued till about the 
13th or 15th day of the fever, when thefe words of the 
1 1 8th pfalm, " I mall not die, but live, and declare the 
works of the Lord," were, as it were, audibly fpoken to 
me between fleeping and waking \ and my faith helped 
me to lay hold thereon, fo that my fears fled, and I was 
no more fad. Praifes then dwelt on my fanltering 
tongue, and I fpake within myfelf to God what moment 
I had xefpite from the diieafe, yea, I told my lifter, 
w 7 hen weeping at my bed-fide, that I mould not die, 
From the 2Cth day I began to amend. I now thought 
that mv life, in a double refpecl, belonged to God, who 
had redeemed me from going down to the grave, and 
refolved, if he mould be pleafed to accept of me, to de- 
vote the remainder of my days to his fervice in the 
crofpel, and to arrange my affairs fo as to begin my 
ftudies next Martinmas." 

Before Martinmas came, however, new difficulties 
occurred to obftruft his defign. This was the more 
afflicting, becaufe he could not exculpate himfelf from 
having involved himfelf in them, by his^own imprudence. 
His debts were diminiming, his bufmefs- increahng, and, 
had he had no further views than continuance in 
bufmefs, he found himfelf, on the 20th of July *, " by 
the kindnefs of Providence, as well as he could wifh." 
But he haftily afpired at conveniences which he ought 

lot 
# Seep* xxx ? 



THE LIFE OF MR JAJgES MfcJLKLE. XXXIX 

for a while to have declined ; for, finding it diiagreeable 
to be changing his habitation, as he had done every fea- 
fon, he purchaled a fmall houie in the village, and thus 
increased his debts. This was not all ; when he took- 
pciVeiiion of it at Whitfunday 1756, fome repairs be- 
came abfoiutely neceffary to render it habitable j and 
though a imali fuin mult have been fufficient for the 
purchafe and reparation of a thatched houfe, yet it was 
more than he could afford without borrowing, and it 
led to embarraflnients which ultimately defeated his 
intention of proiecuting his itudies. " I cannot help 
thinking that I erred, for 1 mould have elTayed to build 
the temple of the Lord, before I chofe to fit in mine 
own houie."" 

It were tedious to enter into a minute detail of the 
embarraffments and dillreffes of the following year. 
Some of his creditors became impatient, and took legal 
Reps to enforce payment. He examined the (late of 
Lis affairs, and found that his property confiderably 
exceeded his debts j but he had imprudently locked it 
up, and was unable to raife what was neceffary to fa- 
tisfy their demands. The idea of bankruptcy was 
terrible to him \ " for, 7 ' fays he, " the name of Lonefly 
was always dear to me j and I cannot excufe people's 
becoming bankrupt, unlefs fome great lofs or feries of 
misfortunes have befallen them j" but how to efcape it 
occaiioned him many anxious and perplexing thoughts. 
At laft, after fatisfying the moif. clamorous of his 
creditors, by giving to feme full, and to others par- 
tial payment, he refolved, May 1757. on committing 
the management of his property, which was more 
than fufficient to anfwer all . demands on him, to a 
friend^ and betake himfelf to fea. 



;xl THE LIFE OF MR JAMES MEIKLE. 

It was not without much ferious deliberation that 
-lie formed this refolution. By continuing in Carn- 
Yv T ath, he fuipecled he could never attain the object, 
which he had fo long in view 5 " for," fays he, " al- 
though I could live very well, yet, without demand- 
ing higher prices than my patients were able to af- 
ford, I could not clear my debts, and lay up any thing 
for attending the univerfity, and ftudying divinity." 
Refolving, therefore, to make another effort to attain 
Lis grand object, he fat down, and weighed the argu- 
ments in favour of going to fea and againft it, that he 
might fatisfy his confcience refpecling what was his 
duty. His reafonings, as ftated by himfelf, were after 
this manner : Pro. " Have I not engaged to ufe every 
effort to get forward to the miniftry ?" Contra. " I 
have, and am determined, though I remain at home ? 
BOt to deml." — Pro. " What method, then, (hall 
now be taken to forward this intention r" Contra* 
" None that is finfoi," — Pro. " But is it finful to go 
aboard a man of war as as furgeon r" Contra. " Not 
pofitively, but it may be fo by confequence." — Pro. 
u How fo r" Contra. " Becaufe, by going, I (hail 
throw myfelf into bid company, expofe myfelf to hear 
the facrea name profaned, and fee the Sabbath broken, 
cad myfelf out of the church, and neither enjoy ordi- 
nances, nor the fellowfhip of the godly." — Pro. " I 
grant it ; but I can fay that I propofe to do this, not 
out of choice, nor directly for gain. I will fludy to 
reprove vice, and may have opportunity to do good. O 
grant it, though it were but to one foul ! I fhall have 
a feparate place in the Oiip, and will iludy to keep it as 
clofe as poflible, that I may not be grieved with hearing 
•and feeing wickednefs, nor tempted to commit it. And 



THE LIFE OF MR Jj IKLE. xll 

as for fermons, except a few in fummer, I much oftener 
want than enjoy them, here where I am : may I have 
God's prefence." Contra. " But what moves me to 
** — Pro, " To get the means of going forward to the 
iftry, to prepare myfelf for it, to purfue my ftudies 
with this view, and to have cccafion and fubjecl for 
fome divine meditations. " 

Having thus fatisf.ed his cortfcience refpecling the 
ftep he was to take, he accepted of an offer mace him 
to be furgeon to a fl ; d to the coaft of 

Guinea. Every thing in his opinion was prepared, and 
already he had taken fare many cf his friends, 

■!. on the day previous to his intended departure, the 
5th of July 1 7 5 ~ ? ProTidence blailed his defign. He 
bad paid off almoft all his creditors, as fait as his ac- 
counts came in. There was nothing to give him un- 
eafinefs except one bili, and this his agent had agreed 
to manage for him, having ample fecurity for repay- 
ment in the property which was left behind $ but the 
creditor took alarm at his going abroad, affected to 
diilruit the agent who was re manage his affairs in his ab- 
fence, and laid him under arret!. Not a friend to whom 
he applied Tnuld advance the money for him, or even 
become his furety. In this emergency, it became ne- 
ceffar.y to part with what money he had reserved for 
defraying the expences of his journey to England; and 
<; when the day came which,' 1 fays he, u I, but not 
God, had appointed,*' he found"] ompelled to 

remain at home. 

How greatly he rr.iUt have been mortified by difap- 
pointment, attended with circumltances of fuch publicity, 
it is eafy to conceive. It is more interefting to remark 
with what Chriflian temperhe bore it. During the tumult 

of 



•^ilii THE LIFE OF MR J^MES MEIKLE. 

of his paffions, he wrote Pvled. XI. of " Solitude Sweetened, 1 ' 
in which, after reviewing the providence.of God, expreff- 
ing his faith in the divine wifdom and care, and rejoi- 
cing in the hope of eternal life, he breaks out in triumph : 
6i I (hall yet fee his kindnefs large as my faith, and his 
mercy meafure with my wideft expectations 5" and prays, 
" May I never get the defire of my heart but with God's 
bleffing, nor the requeft of my lips but with his good- will/' 
After writing this Meditation, he remarks that he was 
-eafy in mind, and dropped for the prefent the idea of 
going abroad ; and when he reflected on his duty to his 
friends who had abandoned him in his diftrefs, " I could 
not," he fays, " but forgive them, and even ceafe in 
mine own mind to be angry at them." 

It was not loner before he became fatisfied that he had 

o 

not acled wifely in accepting of a place in a Guinea 
fliip, and that God had dealt kindly in re draining him 
from countenancing a trade, on the iniquity of which he 
had not fufficiently reflecled. As, however, no other 
method occurred by which he could extricate himfelf 
from the embarraffments of his fituation, and be enabled. 
to profecute his ftudies, he ft ill entertained thoughts of 
going to fea, and in the month of December refolved on 
entering the Royal Navy. It was time of war, and a 
iituation us furgeon's mate was eafily procured. Before 
he left heme, he endeavoured, as before, to fatisfy his 
confeience refpe&ing the lawfulness of his fcheme, and 
drew up a feries of resolutions refpeding the line of con- 
duel which he was determined to purfue. One of the 
confiderations which determined him to perfift in going to 
fea, is too memorable, in confequence of the publication 
of this volume, and a former, entitled " Solitude Sweet- 
<ened," to be omitted : " That if I (hall write any thing 

for 



i 



THE LIFE OF MR JAMES MEIKLE. xlli£ 

for the fuppott of virtue, or the fuppreflion of vice, dated 
from the watery element, it may be read by forae whole 
Curiofity might incline them to look into what they 
would never feek after for the fake of the rubleS." His 
refolutions are expreiTed th.is : 

M Through thine ali-afiifting grace, I defire before 
thee, O God, to humble my foul on account of my fins, 
and to feek thy bleffing and thy countenance in the way 
that I go, that it may be well with my foul. x\nd 
through thy grace, dift rutting myfelf, and looking to thee 
alone for ftrength to perform them, I defire to lay down 
my folemn promifes before thine omnifciency, that in time 
coming this paper may be a remembrancer to me. 

u I. I refolve to make this only an opportunity to 
help me forward in my great deiign, and not the em- 
ployment of my life. 

" 2. I promife and refolve, through grace, not to 
negleft fecret prayer and reading of the fcriptures, in the 
fame manner as I have dene at home. 

" 3. I promife, through the ftrength of grace, not 
to be afhamed of religion, but to efpoufe it in all its 
defpiied purity, and to ftrive againft the ft ream of general 
irreligion and depravity. 

<; 4- I promife and refolve, through grace, to abftain 
from all appearance of evil, and to ihun every occafion 
of fin, as none knows how great a matter a final] {park 
may kindle, 

" 5, I promife and refolve not to wink at fin in 
others,, but rather espofe jits ugly appearance, that my 
cenverfation may fhine fpotlefs before the fons of vice. 

'* 6. I mail remark the good hand of my God upon 
me in all his kind providences, with filence and refigna* 
tion under all his difpofajs. 



3dlV THE LIFE OF MR JAMES MEIKLE. 

" 7. I fhall employ my time, my pen, and the talents 
t 5 nou haft given me, in matters of importance for God's 
glory and the good of fouls \ and therefore beg thy kind 
aftlftance for this eud. 

" 8. I fhall, through grace, ftudy to keep an equal 
frame of mind in every ft ate, in adverfity to be thankful, 
In profperity humble, and in all conditions to live to thy 
praife ; and ftill to remember, that no change of circum- 
ftances will releafe me from my obligation to the above 
particulars : as a fign of which, through grace, and be- 
fore thee, I fubjoin my name, 

" James Meikle." 

i 

Towards the clofe of December, he left Carnwath tor 

Leith, from which he was to fail in one of the King's 
fliips appointed as convoy to the trade j but his trunk, 
through the negligence of the perfon who had charge 
of it, did not arrive in time, and he was again difappoint- 
ed. Another convoy was not expecled to fail for two 
months-, he was afraid left a relidence fo long in Edin- 
burgh or Leith might exhauft his little ftock of money $ 
and it. became neceiTary for him to return to Carnwath. 
This was to him a fource of new diftrefs. His acquain- 
tances in jeft welcomed him on his return from foreign 
places 5 and fome of them insinuated, that neither former- 
ly, nor at this time, had he any ferious intention of going 
to lea, but fhat he only gave it out as a ftratagem to 
obtain payment of bis accounts. Sufpected by fome, 
ridiculed by others, almoft without employment, and 
doubting in his own mind what thefe continued difap- 
pointments could mean - y he ftudied fubmiffion to the 
will of God*, and fpent two melancholy months. waiting 

« for 

* See Solitude Sweetened, Med. vi. ix t xxxrx, 



THE LIF£ OF MR JAMES MEIKL&. xlv 

for an opportunity to depart. At length, en trie iot'i 
of March 1758, he left Carnwath once mere, and next 
week embarked on board the A returns tender for Lon- 
don. After palling at Surgeons Hall, he received an 
appointment frcm the Navy-Ofnce of fecond lurgeoh's 
mate to the Portland, a fifty gun (hip, and fet out im- 
mediately for Portfmouth on foot. Although he could 
have reached that place on the evening of Saturday the 
29th of April, he preferred halting at a village within 
ten miles of it till the morning of the following Monday, 
" not daring," he fays, " to join fuch company on fuch 
a day," and judging it mere proper to devote the lad 
Sabbath which perhaps for feme time he {rculd ipend on 
fhore to thofe religious exercifes which his circumftances 
particularly required. That he might net be expofed 
to interruption, he retired into the fields, took his Bible, 
paper, pen, and ink, along with him, and fpenrrthe day 
" pleafantly," he fays, " praying that he might above 
all things be preferved in his new iituation from fin and 
vice, and committing his friends at home to the guidance ^ 
of Providence.'' In thefe fields he wrote the ninth 
meditation in this volume, the perufal of which will give 
the reader feme idea of the manner in which he was 
employed. 

Mr Meikle had fcarcely entered the (hip, when he was 
confounded at the difecvery of ^degree of wickednefs, of 
which it dres not appear that he had ever before formed 
a~ny conception. " It exceeded, 1 ' he fays, " all belief, 
and I foon concluded that here I could not flay." His 
Journals are every where filled with complaints of the 
abandoned conduct both of the officers and crew. Their 
vile habit of prqfane fwearing, their contempt of the 
Sar^batr^ their drunkennefs, and grofs and uridifguifed 

d debauchery. 



Xlvi THE LIFE OF MR JAMES MEIKLE. 

debauchery, were a continual fource of diftrefs to him 
during the four years that he continued on board. H I 
believe," fays he, in a letter to the Rev. Mr Horn, " the 
demoniacs in the gofpel were never more under the 
devil's power than many of thefe men are, whether we 
look to their lives or their language." His righteous 
feu! was fo vexed from day to day with their filthy con- 
verfation and unlawful deeds, that it preyed on his fpirils, 
and threatened to affect his health. " This day," fays 
he, July 7. 1758, 4i when I took a ferious furvey of the 
wickednefs praclifed around me, when I faw all fear of 
God caft off, heard them on the morning of the Lord's 
day fwearing, and ringing obfcene fongs, and obferved 
the fhip's boats bringing lewd women aboard, no 
lefpecl: being paid to the holy Sabbath which God has 
fet for a fign between the Chriftian world and himfelf, 
yea the very fliame of fin being gone, I was filled with 
vexation, grief, and, might I fay, holy indignation, till 
my bread aked, and I was pained at my very heart." 

It was not merely companion for the poor wretches 
themfelves that .occasioned Mr Meikle fuch diftrefs. 
He trembled for himfelf. Some of his wicked com- 
panions had been educated religioufly $ when he repro- 
ved them, they replied to his reproofs, that ere long he 
would not be fo fqueamifli, and quoted examples to con- 
vince Jiim that he would foon be reconciled to their 
manners, and adopt them as his own. " Thefe," fays 
he, u were terrifying thoughts to me. They led me to 
reflect feriouily on my own vilenefs and my own weak- 
nefs, and to fly to the divine promife, with refolution to 
keep out of the way of fin, left, as they predicted, I 
fhould be enfnared, and become as one of them." It 
, did not fatisfy his confcience that he abftained from 

their 



THE LIFE -OF MR JAMES MEIKLE. xlvii 

their vices ; he dreaded the errec~l of witneffing their 
wickednefs in leffening his deteflation of fin, and firength- 
ening the depraved inclinations of his heart. " One 
thing," fays he, in a letter to a friend, <; which I fear, is, 
left the frequent fight of fin diminifli that abhorrence of 
k which I (hould always entertain. Sin, the oftener it is 
committed, is the more aggravated, and fo the fight of it 
iliould become the more grievous to me \ and can I 
fay that I have fuftained no injury, if I begin, through 
familiarity with it, to hate it lefs than before \ Some- 
times I reflect how under the Iaw r the touch of a dead 
body, or any unclean thing, though accidentally or un- 
wittingly, made the perfon ceremonially unclean \ and 
hence infer, that the very hearing, feeing, and knowing 
•f fin, considering the corruption that remains within us, 
renders us unclean, efpecially, if by grace in vigorous 
exercife, a real deteflation of the fin be not kindled in 
the foul, and a proper forrow wrought there for the dif* 
honour done to the Moil High. Now, dear Sir, you fee 
my critical fituatlon ; pray for me." 

Amidft, the dangers with which he was furrounded, 
Mr Meikleput his trull in God. It comforted him, he 
fays, that the Lord, who delivered jufl Lot, knoweth how 
to deliver the godly out of temptations \ and that if he 
iliould not anfwer his prayers by delivering him from 
this fituation of danger, he would do it, by making his 
grace fufficient for him, and his fhength perfect in weak- 
nefs. It was to him, according to his faith. " Though 
the wicked," he fays, " gave me grief without, yet God 
comforted me, and was the joy of my foul." And again 
he exprefTes himfelf thus : t; Woe is me, becaufe I am a 
man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midft of a people 
of unclear, lips ! O the unclean things that the un- 
clean lips convey to us, if not to our heart . to de- 
d 2, fife; 



xlviii THE LIFE OF MR JAMES MEIKLE. 

file us, yet to our ear to difquiet us ! Yet I have God 
to blefs that I was, as it were, faved by fire, purified even 
by means of fin — a myffery 1 never knew before j for 
the more of their fin Lfaw, the more I hated it, and i 
was made to deplore the fountain of all, original guilt." 
Had it not been for the wickednefs of thofe on board 
the ^Portland, Mr Meikle would have felt no defire for 
fome time to change his fituation in life. He kept his 
health j he was fatisfied with his pay j he had a birth to 
himfelf and the firft mate, who was a quiet, inolfenfive, 
but irreligious lad, and gave him little diiturbance ; and 
the officers of the Orip treated him with politenefs. His 
character appears, during the whole period of his con- 
tinuance at fca, to have commanded the refped of his 
ungodly companions. They fometimes ridiculed hira 
indeed for his ftrictnefs \ yet he remarks, " Though they 
were wicked, I had their favour, which my fellow mate 
had not.*" They defifted, on more occaiions than one, 
from fports on the Sabbath which were difagreeable to 
"him y and took it in good part when he reproved fome 
of them very fharply for their vices. In confequence of 
his honeft endeavours for their benefit, fome of them 
even coafeffed and lamented their folly, and put them- 
felves under reftraint for a while. Their fickle refolu- 
tions, it is true, were commonly fcon broken, " yet," 
fays he, " I never gave over now and then to reprove, 
though I fcmetimes had little thanks for it, not know- 
ing when God might give the ble fling j" and though he 
could not boaft of being the means of the converfion of 
any of them, he had the comfort of doing his duty, cor- 
recting fome abufes, and preferving the eHeem even of 
thofe who would not be reformed, After he had been 
three years on board, he could write to his fifter thus ; 
" Abftr acting from their wickednefs, and furely when 

we 



i 

THE LIFE OF MR JAMES MEIKLEV XilX ' 

we iee tranfgrefTors we mould be grieved, my firuation • 
Bngularly happy \ for there is not an officer aboard 
but is ready to oblige me ? and to do any thing to ferve 
me." 

The bappinefs which Mr Meikle experienced when 
at Tea, did not remit only or chiefly from the favour of 
man. He had pleafures of a fuperior kind ; the trah- 
fcendent happinefs of fellowuiip with God, joy and peace 
in believing, and aflured hopes of eternal life. " What- 
ever God ihall do with me here," he fays in his journal, 
July 28. 1758, " yet I know that I mall praife him 
among affemblcd elders, and ferve him before the throne 
among thofe who are made priefts and kings to him for 
ever and ever." And about a year after, he writes to 
his niter in the following words : <; I may fay from ex- 
perience, that religion fweetens all places and all condi- 
tions} and that the man who fets his love on God need, 
not live alone, though far from all his friends and ac- 
quaintances, God rules always be ft for his people, and 
achearful fubmiiiion to the divine difpofal is our duty ; 
and when frank, and full, and from the heart, how plea- 
fint is it !" Indeed, almoft every one of the meditations 
In " Solitude Sweetened"' and " the Traveller," which 
were written at lea, might be quoted in proof of the very 
flourilhinfg Hate of religion in his foul. 

The religion of Mi Meikle was not the religion of an 
indolent man. He kept himfelf, he tells us 5 pretty cloic 
in his birth, except when his duty called him on deck ; 
for the horrid oaths which were continually bandied - 
about on it, often drove him down fooner than he intend- 
ed 5 but he filled up every moment of his time in forne 
ufeful or at leaft innocent employment. As a fpecimen 
of his almoft incredible diligence^ take the following: 
d-3J 



1 THE LIFE OF MR JAMES ft&XKEE. 

fummary of his occupations from the ill of May tc 
end of December 1758. Let it be remembered at the 
fame time, that during this period the Portland was fent 
en three different fecret expeditions to the coail of France, 
to St Malbes, to Cherburg and to St Cas' bay ; that 
much time mud have been occupied in the embarkation 
snd difembarkation of troops, much confuflcn occaiioned 
by the multitude on board, and much additional duty 
neceffarily laid on the fiirgeons by the number of wound- 
ed men under their charge. Ye: curing thisbufy period, 
2\Tr Meikle found leifure to compofe a paraphrafe on 
the Song of Solomon in verfe, and " the Cbriftian Com- 
pafs," a paraphrafe on the 119th Pfalm, each of which 
would fill a ccnfiderable volume ; btfides a great variety 
of occafional poems. A fmall tradi againit the lewd- 
nefs and debauchery fo common in the Navy, and a 
considerable treatife, which may perhaps afterwards be 
published, entitled u A Word in Time of Need, or a few 
Thoughts in Honour of Religion," were written by him 
within the fame fpace of time. To thefe mutt be added, 
his journal, and his diary for thefe eight months, and all 
the meditations in " the Traveller" and " Solitude 
Sweetened'' correfponding to this date. 

Yet though he wrote fo much, he did not negleft read- 
ing, and other religious duties. ** I began," he fays, June 
3 758, " to prize time more than ever I had done before, 
and (tudied to get up by four in the morning ; but fome- 
times flept longer *." " Now the fcriptures were fweeter 
to me than ever, (July 7. 1758.) ; and the method I 
purfued was, in the morning firft to pray, leit any thing 
ihould diflurb me afterwards 3 then to read one chapter 
in the Old, and another in the New Teftament, and then 
a pfalm in the metre vernon. At twelve o'clock I pray- 
ed 
• See Solitude Sweetened, Med, ZLVI. 



I LIFE OF MR JAr.iES MEIKLE, ii 

ed again, and again at four, At night I read a chapter 
in both 1 eftaments, and another pfalm, and then prayed, 
which I postponed till the lights were put cut, as then I 
.v. as leaf! disturbed. This I mention, not as matter of 
bonding, for my prayers may humble, rather than elate 
me, but to fignify how fvveet I then found living near 
God to be, and to be in the exercife of commanded 
duty." 

While Mr Meikle was occupying himfelf in this truly 
Chiiftian manner, the Portland received orders to proceed 
to Gibraltar as convoy to the trade, and thence down 
the Mediterranean as far as Leghorn. After encounter- 
Jng force, hard gales, which drove them back three feveral 
times, they left England on the 20th of January 1759, 
reached Gibraltar on the 21ft of February, halted 
about ten days at that place, and arrived at Leghorn on 
the 25th of March, having narrowly efcaped a French 
fleet which had failed from Toulon with a view to in- 
tercept them. 

During the voyage Mr Meikle repeatedly remarks 
the divine kindnefs to his foul, and the many fweet hours 
which he enjoyed in delightful intercourfe with the God 
of his falvation. The Sabbath in particular was to hirn 
a day of fpiritual joy. It was his cuftom diftinclly to 
note it, both in his journal of ordinary occurrences, and 
in his diary, in which he recorded his obfervations on 
the events of providence and the irate of his foul, for 
two reafons \ fir ft, left in a fituation in which there was 
no diftinclion made between it and other days of the 
week, he mould forget the return of the day of facred 
reft *, and, fecondly, becaufe, fays he, " I chofe to mark 
how it fared with me on that day in particular, and 
always made my requeft to Gcd the evening before, that 



!ii' TflE Ll!*£ OF MR JAMES* MEIK-LE. 

if might be a good day to my foul." And though ;k 
often laments his excluiion from the public ordinances of 
religion, and the great difficulty which he found in de- 
voting the Sabbath as he ought to the Ter vice of God in 
private: yet, asatdft thefe difadvantages, there is reafon ■ 
to believe that he enjoyed as much of the prefence of 
God, and tailed as much of the joys of paradife upon it, 
as ever lie did at any other period -of his lite. 

At Leghorn, he hadoccafion to remark the Interpol?- 
tion of Providence in a very lingular manner in his behalf. - 
Several, of the gentlemen belonging to the Blip had 
formed a party in order to viiit the city-of Pifa, which is 
not more than twelve miles diilant, and entertain them- 
felves with the fight of its famous hanging tower, and the 
other curiofities of the place. Mr Meikle, ilarting in the 
rooming of the I2th of April, went on foot byhimfelf, and 
enjoyed, he fays, by the way, <; pleafant meditations on 
the love of Chriil $V the reft followed on horfeback. The 
afternoon was far advanced before they had fufficiently 
gratified their curiofity. In the evening Mr Meikle*s * 
v companions returned 5 but he, being fatigued, and ob- - 
ferving that the wind was foul, fo that the fleet which 
the Portland w r as to convoy could not fail, ventured to 
remain in Pifa. Early next morning, he fet out N for 
Leghorn \ but the wind had changed during the night, , 
and before he could reach the city, the fleet had weighed, , 
and were already feveral leagues on their way. 

By this occurrence he was thrown into inconceivable 
perplexity. In a ftrange place, ignorant of the language, 
with no clothes except what were on his body, with 
little money in his pocket, without one perfonal ac- 
quaintance, and even few Englishmen being left in the- 
place to take intereft in the diftreffes of their country- 
ma: 



SHE LIFE Of MR JAMES MEIKLE. liii 

man j a r raid, befides, of the fate of his papers and othe* 
property on board, of the Iofs of what was due to him oil 
the (hip's books, and of being detained long before he 
could find an opportunity of getting home j what was 
to be done ? In his diltrefs he applied to the Englifh 
conful } but every expedient fuggefted by him and icme 
others whom he ccnfulted, mifgave. 

After thus fpending the remainder of Friday, and the 
whole of Saturday, in fruitlefs contrivances how to ex- 
tricate bimfelf from the embarraflmencs of his fituation, 
the Sabbath came, on which he refolved as much as 
polTible to baniih care, and to commit himfelf to God. 
It was his cuftom, when an enemy appeared, cr when at 
any time he went afhore, to put fels Bible in his pocket, 
that in any event he might not be deprived of the con- 
folation which the perufal of it is calculated to afford } 
and on this occafion he remarks that " he was fo happy 
as to have along with him his dear companion, the 
Bible." E.u3y on the morning, therefore, of the 15th 
of April, he retired to a foreil which lay a c c n fid er able 
way out of town on the road to Pifa, and fpent the day 
in devotional exercifes. He fung the fixty-third Pfalm 3 . 
" a pfalm written in a wildernefs, which, " fays he, 
u gave me great comfort in my wildernefs. M He read 
the hundred and fecond Pfalm, which " well fuits the 
afflicted when he is overwhelmed, and poureth out his 
complaint before the Lord." He engaged repeatedly 
in prayer, and in meditation on God and the difpenfa- 
tions of his providence towards his people, and himfelf irT 
particular. As the day advanced, the wind fprung up, 
and it began to rain. He took Chelter from the ftorm 
in the trunk of a hollow tree, and Handing within it, 
wrote the following lines, which axe inferted, not for any 



llV THE LIFE OF MR JAMES MEIKLE. 

excellence in the poetry, but becaufe of the circura- 
Hances in which they were compofcd, and to (hew the 
temper of his mind on this trying occasion. 

u THE CONFIDENCE OF THE SOLITARY EXILE ; 
Written hi a Fcrejl between Leghorn and Fifa, April 15. 5.759. 

" A itranger in a foreign land, 
I throw myfelf on thee : 
There's help in that Almighty hand 
That made both land and fea. 

*V Though far from friends, and far from home,. 
I am not far from God : 
Tie will net (land aloof j he'll come, 
And furely do me good, 

" Upon thy pow'r, Lord, I will lean ^ 
Why mould I bound thy ways ? 
Thy powV the harder! things can bring 
To jpafs with greater!; eafe. 

" Oft have I feen thy former love, 
Still will I truft in thee 5 
Thou'canM not ceafe from beav'n above 
Kindly to look en me. 

*' How to relieve thou always know 'ft, 
Thou art as wife as true 5 
And what infinite wifSom plans, 
Infinite pow'r can do. 

" Why doubt my Father's love ? for though 

His providence now frown. 

To me with kindneis overflow 

. word and ways each one. 

"The 



THE LIFE OF MR JAMES MEIKLE. IV 

" The world is thine ; and every where 
Thou'rt prefent, O moft High 1 
I caft myfelf upon thy care j 
I on thy word rely." 

After the rain ceafed, he drew nearer the city, and, 
reclining on ^ bank, wrote a few verfes *, but the wind 
Bill blowing high, the evening growing chill, and he 
himfelf becoming faint, for he had tafted nothing all 
that day but a draught of cold water, and eaten little 
the day before, he returned to the city. Calling at a 
houfe to which he was kindly invited, he had not fat 
long before information was brought him "that the Eng- 
lifli fleet had been driven back by contrary winds, and 
were arrived in the roads. Animated by this delightful, 
but unexpected intelligence of an event which fo evi- 
dently marked the care of Providence, he made all 
poiTible haite towards the fhore *, but it was late, it blew 
hard, and it was morning before he could get aboard, 
As he rowed towards the fnip, it fell calmer, the wind 
became fair, the fignal for failing was hoilted ; and 
within two hours after he entered the Portland, the 
3eet were under way with a fair wind and a frefh gale. 

How ignorant are we of the gracious intention of 
events, of which at the moment we are difpofed to com- 
plain ! The wind which chilled him, and the rain which 
drove him for (helter into the trunk of a tree, were the 
inftruments of his deliverance. M This interpolation of 
Providence for me," he fays, u was aflomfhing \ that 
God mould fend a contrary guit of wind put of his 
treafuries, and turn a whole fleet out of their intended 
courfe for one poor worm ! and, whenever that end 
Was accompli fned, ordered a fair wind to blew,, {o that 

we 



hi THE LIFE OF MR JAMES MEIKLE. 

we were obliged to put back no more." It appears to 
have (truck even the thoughtlefs failors with furprife \ 
for they hailed him as he approached the veffel, in their 
rough and irreligious manner, " Come along, you pray- 
ing d — 1 ;?' adding, that the winds would not permit 
them to leave Leghorn without him. 

His firft care was to acknowledge God. " I had 
pleafant reflections," he fays, " on the fudden and fweet 
change which Providence had made in my circumftances. ' 
The other day I was in a foreft in Italy, folitary, left" 
behind, and friendlefs - y but now in my own (hip, and 
already many leagues advanced in our intended voyage." 
Amidft the glow of gratitude which he felt for his de- 
liverance, he w T rote, April 18. the following lines : 

* s Awake, each grateful thought, and /ing 
The Lord's o'er- ruling hand } 
For thee concern'd, th' Eternal King 
See, and' aftoniuVd (land ! 

^ Heav'n's hods might w^ell engrofs his care, 
Angelic ev'ry form 5 
Yet ftrange ! fee him on earth prepare 
His w T ay to blefs a worm ! 

** At his command, the billows fwell, 
The w 7 inds impetuous blow, 
And veer about, and quick fulfil 
His kind defigns below. 

" "I cannot praife thee as I mould, — 
With gratitude infpire ; 
I cannot praife thee as I would,— 
Accept the faint defire. 

« Thy 



THE LIFE OF MR JAMES MEIKLE. Ivil 

•" Thy kindnefs I will ne'er forget, 
But there aftonifh'd gaze, 
And all my life on earth will fet u ' ti 

Apart to ihew thy praife." 

After a profperous voyage, the fleet arrived at Gibral- 
tar, about the middle of May \ but the Portland, inftead 
of proceeding homeward, was ordered hi a few weeks 
to join Admiral Bofcawen off Toulon, and continued 
cruizing in the Mediterranean till the month of Augufl. 
This was a ferious diiappointment to Mr Ivleikle. He 
was impatient to get home, in order to purfue his in- 
tended ftudies. He was beyond exprefiion difgufted at 
the wickednefs practifed around him, which his utraofl 
exertions were unable to reftrain, and which, in fplte of 
iimfelf, he was obliged to witnefs } and no conflderaticn 
of emolument could make him pleafed with the profpeft 
-of being doomed, for another feafon, to affociate with 
wretches, the greater part of whom neither feared God 
nor regarded man. The crew rejoiced in lome prizes 
they had made, and in the profpecl of more during their 
cruize ; but to Mr Meikle thefe were objecls of little 
moment. He confidered the divine providence, of the 
goodnefs of which he had fo large experience, " as a 
never-failing treafure, a bank out of which the ne- 
ceiTities of all the people of God are fupplied." He 
fubmitted to that as an affliction which gave them 
joy, and felt inexpreflibly happy in being enabled to be- 
lieve, that what to fenfe and reafen appeared fo adverfe, 
'* was certainly well done towards him, being," he 
fays, " the difpofal of my beft and deareft friend. This 
happy frame of fpirit," he adds, " and quietnefs of 
mind, which is only hisgift, this reiignation to his holy 
e will, 



lviii THE LIFE OF MR JAMES MEIKLX. 

will, and confident dependance on his providence and 
fatherly care, I accounted a greater prize than though 
I had C;..red «.en thoufand pounds." 

Before they failed, Mr Meikle, on the 7th of June, 
got a(hore, climbed privately the fouth fide of the rock, 
and fpent the greater part of the day in prayer and 
fading, " pouring out to God," he fays, " my confeffiori 
and complaint." In that fultry fpot, he had " no (hel- 
ter but the rocks, no covering but the heavens :" but 
God was very gracious to him ' y " the naked rock was 
to me," he fays, " like Bethel, God's houfe, where God 
was pleafed to meet with me." 

During their cruize* we rind him fome times rejoicing, 
lome times complaining. u Vain thoughts rifing within 
Hie," he fays, on one occaMon, " made it a melancholy 
day ; yet I thereby learned to depend more on all-fuf- 
£cient grace and the divine promife, than on the mani- 
feftation ; and I was led to fee my own nothingnefs if 
God fhould withdraw but for a moment. The enfuing 
Sabbath, God, who is rich in mercy, returned to my 
foul with his loving-kindnefs, and made me triumph in 
him $ yet was I vexed with melancholy thoughts fpring- 
ing from curfed unbelief, how it might fare with my 
friends at home." "-The God of never-failing mercy," 
fays he, on another occafion, " was gracious to my foul 
this day, yet I thought and verily believed, that none 
who ever tailed that God is gracious, had fuch a mul- 
titude of vain thoughts as I was troubled with." 
Again, " not onlyiinners without, but fin within, vexed 
me this day, yet God was good and gracious to me." 
And again, " this day I was fatisfied with ftreams of 
the fame overflowing river that had refremed me often 
before \ but wickednefs fwelled about me to an in- 
credible degree, fo that I was weary of my life." 

the 



THE LIFE OF MR JAMES MEIKLE. lix 

'The fleet under Bofcawen had not long returned to 
Gibraltar, before information was received that M. de 
la Clue, with the French fleet,, were paffing the Gut. 
They immediately purfued, overtook the French next 
day, and gained, on the 1 8th of Auguft, a fignal viclory, 
taking three mips of the line, and deftroying two. The 
particulars of this engagement belong to the hiftory of 
the country, rather than of Mr Meikle. It is enough 
here to obferve, that the Portland was five hours en- 
gaged, and loft a confiderable number of men \ that 
ihe narrowly efcaped being blown up by a fix- pound 
cartridge of gun-powder, w T hich blew up at the very 
door of the fore powder magazine j that Mr Meikle 
fat compofedly during the chafe, writing Meditation C» 
of this volume, till the drum called all hands to quar- 
ters 5 and that during the heat of the engagement, 
when, in confequence of the blowing up of the cartridge, 
he expe&ed to go down to the deep in a moment $ with 
a ferenity of mind, the thought of which long after re- 
frefhed him, he committed his foul to God *. He alfo 
remarks with gratitude to his Preferver, that, while in 
one of the fhips, a furgeon, and a furgeon's mate, loft a 
leg each, he efcaped 5 and obferves, that he felt inde- 
scribable horror on reflection at the fcene, dunned wit'a 
the noife of great guns, pierced with the groans of the 
wounded, whofe pains he was unable to relieve, be- 
fmeared with human blood, and furrounded with the 
dying and the dead. 

It added coniiderably to Mr Meikle Vduty during 
the engagement and afterwards, that the firft mate 
had been put afhore at Gibraltar, ill of the fcurvy, and 

e 2 nevejE 

* S#c Secret Survey, Sept. 14. 174*, 



Ix THE LIFE OF MR JAMES MEIKLE. 

never returned to the fhip. In other refpecls, he 
accounted this a happinefs. Though a quiet lad, yet 
being a ftranger t© religion, his conveiTation had often 
diftreffed him, and his company, deprived him of that 
liberty which he delired for religious exercifes. Nowj 
however, he had the birth for himfelf ; and as he 
"was foon after promoted to the rank of firft mate, and 
the place of fecond mate continued vacant during the 
remainder of his time at fea, he enjoyed advantages to 
which he had formerly been a ftranger. One of the 
firft ■ ufes .which he made of this change in his fituation, 
was to take two of the (hip's boys into his birth, and to 
endeavour to train them to the knowledge and practice 
of religion j and though thofe whom he firft took under 
his charge run off from the fhip as foon as they reached 
England, he appears to have perfevered in the practice 
as long as he continued on board. 

The Portland, and fome other fhips^ bemg ordered 
home with the prifoners, and to be repaired, Mr Meikle 
reached Spithead on the 16th of September. His firft 
bufinefs was to write the Admiralty, that he might be 
iuperfeded. " I could, willingly," he fays, " have con- 
tinued to ferve my country in my mean ftation, in de- 
fence of our religion and. liberties^ had w r hat I daily 
law and heard been tolerable for me \ but their wicked- 
nefs made me. w T eary of my life." " The poor wretches 
who had been preferved from death in the late engage- 
ment, inftead of rendering to the Lord according to his* 
goodnefsj gave themfelves up to all manner of fin. In 
their fin, I faw the corruption of fallen nature j for 
though many unrenewed men break not out into the fama 
excels of riot, yet till the faving change commence, the 
heart is.in all the fame ; and I trembled left their ex- 

ample 



THE LIFE 6F MR JAMES MEIKXE. Ixi 

ample fhould lead mc to look on fin with lefs abhor- 
rence than before." 

The neceflities of the fervice, however, obliged the 
Admiralty to refufe his petition 5 but he was promoted 
to the rank of firft mate. They put to fea, therefore, 
on the 22d of October for the coaft of France > and or* 
this voyage, as formerly, he tailed much of the pleafure 
of true religion. " November the 4th, being Sabbath," 
he obferves, u was a day of rtfreflbing to my foul $ I 
was helped, not out of a iloical ftupidity, but being con- 
vinced of the equity and noble ends, though to me un- 
known, of God's doings, from the heart to welcome alt 
that had befallen me, and keep filence becaufe HE had 
done it." And, Jan. 27. 1760, he exclaims, a O what 
fvveetnefs my foul enjoyed this day in his prefence, even* 
a foretafte of that happinefe that refreshes the hoils 
above. I was made rather to magnify God in- all his 
ways, than murmur at any of his doings." 

While on the coaft of France, they had two very 
providential efcapes. The Portland, and other five 
ftiips of inferior force, were employed in watching a fleet 
of tranfports intended for the invaflon. of England, 
when the iignal was made for an enemy. They flipt 
their cables and purfued, fuppofing the fleet they def- 
cried at a diftance to be merchant-men or tranfports^ 
Already they were wirhin a few leagues of the enemy,, 
when,, to their confufion, they found that they were 
running into the jaws of the Brefl fleet, commanded by 
Marfhal Conrlans. They attempted to fly, but with 
fcarce a hope of efcaping. The Portland, wlaich failed 
very indifferently fince (he was lafl repaired, was within 
reach of the enemy's (hot, and expecting every moment 
the order to flrike ? when a man, on- the maft-head, an- 

e 3 Bounced 



IxU THELIFE OF MR JAMES MEIKI 

nounced a fleet bearing down before the wind. Sig- 
appeared at the fame inftant flying in the French fleets 
and in a little they altered their courfe. It was the 
Britifh fleet under Hawke which now hove in fight* 
Every heart on beard the Portland was joy \ fhe turned 
to join in the purfuit of her purfuers \ and by the even- 
5ng of that day, Nov. 20. 1 759, one of the greater! naval 
victories was gained which adorn the annals of Bri- 
tain. 

The remains of the French fleet took fhelter in the- 
liver Vilaine, and the Portland was ftationed on the 
coaft, along with fome other (hips, to prevent their 
cfcape. While on this duty, they were affaulted by a 
dreadful temper! on the ill of Jan. 1760 j and the (hip 
drove. One anchor was broken off by the fluke, .another- 
through the middle of the ilalk ; but when they wer® 
almoft on fhore, and all en board expected to perifh, the- 
fheet-anchor was let go, which brought the vefiel up,- 
fo that fhe rode out the florin. 

While Mr Meikle remarked thefe, and many other 
lefs linking circumftances in the courfe of divine provi- 
dence, his foul mourned in fecret over the infenfibility- 
of his companions, whom neither judgements could 
terrify, 1 nor mercies allure. A paper has been found in 
his own hand- writing, which, in the-moft feeling man- 
ner, expreffes the anguifh of his heart on their account, 
and will fupcrfede the necefiity of a more particular detail. 
It has no regular connection of fentences^ but feems to 
have been written ocean* onally during the (hip's con- 
tinuance on the coaft of France, when his mind was at 
any time more than ufualiy impreffed with the view of 
their wickednefs } and afterwards written out on Sept. 
7. 176c; immediately after their return to Plymouth 

bom 



THE LIFE OF M* JA'IES MEIKLE. 

from that itarion, when, in the fields near that place, 
lie devoted a day to prayer and failing on their account 
and his own. It runs thus : 

" Woe is me that I fojourn in Mefech, and dwell 
in the tents of Kedar. 

u My foul is among fierce lion?, though they are 
foiis of men y for their words are (pears and darts, and 
tteir tongues are a fharp fword. 

* O how thofe who (hould live like expectants of 
glory, refemble the damned in hell ! 

" Where is the honour of thy name, which by every 
tongue is continually blafphemed ? 

'• How often would the lofs of an organ have a> 
little relieved the anguifh-of my mind, and the fleep of 
death ihut out the mournful fcene ! 

M Vv T ho can enough extol the patience of God ! 
But who can be enough aftoni&ied at the impenitence- 
of man, who Rill goes on in fin ! 

" Whence mail I fetch floods of tears to weep over 
my demented acquaintances, who are hailening to hell r 
yet believe it not ? 

" Surely my dwelling is in the fuburbs of hell, 
where I hear the blafphemies cf the damned ! 

" The lips that (hould daily praife thee, are daily 
fpeaking perverfe things ; the tongues that mould taHS 
aloud of thy righteoufnefs, are fet on fire of hell. 

" Where, in the day of judgement, where mail 
thefe poor fouls appear ? and whither will they caufe 
their mame to go ? 

" Ye faints ! ye little know what a life your chile 
dren lead when far from you, however well they may 
have been brought up, . 

* Sureljf finneis corxe nearer to the devils in theis 

wickednefs* 



lxiv THE LIFE OF MR JAMES MIIKLB. 

wlckednefs, than faints to the angels in their fanfiity } 
yet a glorious change awaits the one, but a fearful end 
the other, 

44 When (hall my uleni Sabbaths pafs away, fo that 
I may praife the God of Zion in the Zioncf God ? 

" How melancholy to dwell with thofe whom 
death at lait (hall part, to meet no more in one fociety 
again ! 

44 Now it is proper that I pray for them, mourn 
over, and deplore them •, for in a little their (late will 
eternally forbid it, and my ftate eternally forbear it. 

* 4 How might one fee, and not be greatly affiifted, 
nations conquered, kings dethroned, prifoners pafs in 
thoufands, and multitudes go to be broken on the 
wheel ! But who can fee numbers of fellow-creatures 
daring the thunders of the Almighty, provoking his 
vengeance, and plunging into everlafting flames, and 
not be pained to the very heart ! 

44 Surely the fociety of the wicked is the academy of 
hell, where vice is taught, if not by precept, yet by 
praflice, and fomctimes by both, 

44 Every morning my -farrow, returns upon me, and 
my anguiih recoils with every fre(h reflexion. 

44 How dangerous is the company of the wicked ! 
for though they mould not prevail on us to commit lin ? 
yet their often committing it in our fight is ready to 
blunt the edge of our deteftation, and aHay the vigour 
©f our abhorrence of it. 

44 Were men as ftupid about the things of this life 
as they are about the world to come, they would be a 
burden to fociety, and ufelefs in thtlr -ene ration. Hoy? 
deplorable is it, then, that they fhouid be only prudent 

in 



THE LIFE OF .MR JAMES MEIKLE. Ixv 

In matters, not of the laft, but of the leaft importance, 
and that even thoie who other wife are indolent, ihouki 
oerpetfate fin with the greater! activity ! 

" When neither judgements nor mercies, promifes 
nor threatenings, patience nor examples of vengeance, 
can prevail, nothing can let them fee their folly till 
awakened by the flames of hell, when it will be too 
late. 

" Revolutions here * have advantaged me nothingj 
for it was itill from bad to worfe." 

Immediately after their arrival from the coafl of 
France, Mr Mtikle began to write what he ilyles u A. 
Secret Survey into, the State of the Soul," the principal- 
articles of which have been publiihed in the firft volume 
of his Works. To this, therefore, the reader is hence- 
forth referred for information refpccling his religious 
views and. feelings. It is proper, however, to obferve, 
that he did not fatisfy himfelf with watching over the 
flate of his own foul, and bewailing the wickednefs of 
his companions, He ftill, as prudence dictated, con- 
tinued to reprove and warn them. Ke ftill -privately 
continued to inftruct. and eounfel the boys whom he had 
taken under his charge. Bendes, he fpent many hours> 
during the greater part of the year 176a, in converfa- 
tio.n and prayer with a young gentleman belonging to 
the fhip, who had fallen under frrong con viclions, and 
fuffered very lingular honor of confcience j a minute 
narrative of whofe cafe has been found among his 
papers 5 but the iffue of which 5 whether in a gracious 
change cr not, Mr Meikle could never learn, as the 

fhip 

* Since he joined the (hip, befides changes among the inferior 
officers, they had three captains. The chaplain was fo very 
wicked, that he had been expelled the (hipi 



ixvi THE LIFE OF UK JAMES MEJKXH. 

fliip was ordered to fea foon after the gentleman left it^ 
and he could never afterwards obtain any information 
concerning him *. 

While lying at Plymouth, Mr Meikle bethought 
kirofelf of a new expedient for the benefit of his com- 
panions. Seiadng a favourable moment, when fome of 
the rnidftiipmen had conducted themfelves fo ill as to 
be turned off, he prevailed on a few of thofe who re- 
mained, to enter into a folemn engagement xefpe fling 
their future behaviour 5 and that he might not fcare 
them, limited the obligation to the period of one month, 
expecting doubtlefs, if his attempt mould fucceed, to 
obtain their concurrence to a renewal of the engage- 
ment^ or to the adoption of fome limilar rules. The 
original is in Mr Meikle's hand- writing, and is fuh- 
fcribed by other three perfbns. As it will be deemed by 
thofe who are acquainted with the prevailing manners 
of the navy, a curiofity, and happily illuftrates, not only 
his zeal, but his prudence, in adapting the regulations to 
the circumftances of thofe for whofe benefit they were 
devifed, an exact copy is fubjoined : 

» On board the Portland, Jan, 3. 1761. 
w We, the underwritten, fubfcribe to obferve the 
following Rules. 

4< I» That none of us mall fwear, or even mention 
the divine name, but when in reading it occurs. 

" II. That we (hall fay grace before and after meat 
by turns, or every one for hirnfelf. 

" III. That every morning and night we (hall read 
a portion of fcripture. 

« IV. 

* This Narrative may perhaps appear ia the regaining volume, 
of Mr Meikle's Works. 



THE LIFE OF MR JAMES MEIKLE. Ixvil 

u IV. That none of us (hall fing obfcene fongs, of 
talk about whores. 

* V. That our table-difcourfe (hall be improving^ 
innocent, and merry. 

" VI. That we (hall keep die Sabbath ftriftly, not 
in telling idle tales, or vain difcourfe \ but (hall read 
the Bible and good books by turns, while the red 
hear. 

" VII. Good books to be put into the foremoft 
birth every Saturday night, and nobody to come into 
the aftermoft birth on Sunday but the former inha- 
bitants. 

** VIII. That, on account of patients, every night 
at fix o'clock the aftermoft birth be evacuated. 

" IX. No whores fhall be admitted into either 
birth. 

" X. That we will not play at cards or any game 
for money, but at cards at no rate. 

" XI. That no difpute be carried on too far ; but 
when paiTion begins to appear, it fhall be dropt. 

u XII. That no new midihipman be admitted into 
the mefs. 

" XIII. That none of us reveal our rules to any 
on board. 

" XIV. That this continue a month in force. 

'" XV. That the breach of any of the above rules 
by any of us diffolves all. 

u To the above w T e fet our hand* 

(Subfcribed) " Jamjts Atxin, 
11 Hugh Fergus. 
u James Nelson. 
** James Mei&le." 

How 



Ixvlii THE LIFE OF MP. JAMES MElKLZ = 

Ho'.v long thefe regulations were kept, or what fa» 
lutary effects they had in the reformation,. of the fub- 
fcribers, is not known. Ivlr Meikle often complains in 
his diary of the fhort continuance of good irnpreuions 
on the hearts of thofe with whom he remon ft rated, of 
their breach of pious reflations, of their goodnefs being 
like the early cloud, and of many of them returning like 
the dog to his vomit. Grieved at their conduct, he 

his 
lis view, he wrote to the Navy- Office 
in September, and again in November 1760, but in both 
infrances was refufed ; and afterwards, with no better 
fuccefs, attempted to exchange with a furgeon's mate 
whole fliip was to be paid off. Two confiderations 
faelides thofe already mentioned, increafed his defire to 
get home. He had received the greater part of his 
pay, and, " with great joy, fent home as much as 
would clear all debts," both thofe which he had left 
behind him, and thofe which, iince his departure, had 
been contracted for the fupport of his aged mother, of 
whofe deceafe he had lately before received^ informa- 
tion ' y fo that the great impediment to his ftudies was 
removed out of the way. And befides, he had in fome 
inftnnces been un watchful, — had fuffered his paffion to 
get the maftery over him, in one inftance, when he 
thought himfelf ill ufed.— and in another, when in com- 
pany with the officers of the (hip, " had drunk more 
wine than enough, which rendered him unfit for every 
duty incumbent on him." " O how dangerous," he 
cries, " is it to dwell among the wicked !" and, con- 
fcious of his infirmity, he longed to get out of the way 
of temptations before which he was apt to fall. 

In the month of March 1761, the Portland failed 

for* 



TLE LIFE OF MR JAMES MEIKLE. Ixbt 

for the aland of St Helena, as convoy to the outward- 
bound Eait- India fleet, halted for fome time at Madeira 
on her paffage out, and reached St Helena in the be- 
ginning of June. She returned with the homeward- 
bound fleet, and reached the Downs by the end of 
September. 

During this voyage, Mr Meikle perfevered in 
ufual diligence. Befides his (tated religious exerr 
formerly mentioned, he wrote many Pcerns and Medi- 
tations *. He applied himfelf alfo very diligently to the 
fludy of the Hebrew language, and completed the read- 
ing of the Pentateuch before he reached England. The 
flate of his foul may in part be learned by confulting 
the u Secret Survey." The following fhort extracts 
will ferve further to (hew it. " x\pril 5. I had reafon 
to fay that God's love is like the ocean, his goodnefs 
like the floods, and that he is gracioufly near to all that 
call on him." " May 3. was to my foul a good day j 
and though the iniquity of my heels overtook me, the 
God of my mercy prevented me, which made me fing 
of the freenefs of grace." " On the 17th, he kindly 
opened the (lores of his goodnefs, and made my foul 
delight itfelf in fatnefs." " On the 24th, the wandering? 
of my heart were very grievous. O when (hall my 
complaint ceafe !" He went afhore at St Helena on the 
8th of June, wandered to a confiderable diftance into the 
country, and devoted the day in folitude to felf- exami- 
nation and prayer. " But O what a black life mine 
was, when narrowly furveyed, when by meditation it 

f was, 

* He wrote alfo, when at fea, feme fmall tra&s, againfl 
profane fwearing, and other vices, but at what particular period 
cannot be afcertained. 



IXX THE LIFE OF MR JAMES MEIKLE. 

was, as it were, taken to pieces. Though the world 
could fay but little, confcience' could fay a great deal.' 5 ' 
" July 12. was Sabbath, and though bufy for a confider- 
able part of the day among the fick, yet God remem- 
bered me in my wilderaefs, and watered my defart. I 
found, that to be allowed to live near God is the 
fweeteft life in the world, and fvveetens every condi- 
tion." 

The fcurvy and dyfentery raged on board the flap 
during the voyage home, to fuch a degree, that they 
loft 26 men, and at one period had 65 fick. Although 
the fatigue of duty muft have been great, Mr Meikle re- 
marks, with gratitude to God, that, except during a few 
days when he felt What is ftyled the prickly heat, he re- 
tained his health. They narrowly efcaped, near the 
ifland Fernandez de Noronha, being captured by a 
French fleet which were watching for them, by altering 
their courfe during the night ; and on the night of the 
6th of September, they were mercifully preferved in a 
fiorm, though a thunderbolt ftruck their main top- 
mail;, broke it in pieces, and flunned feveral of the 
people. 

The (hip went into dock after their arrival, and again 
Mr Meikle applied to the Navy- Board without fuccefs. 
On the 25th of November, they failed for Lifson, and 
returned to Spithead on the lit of February 3762, 
I;rino;inor home the Earl of Briitol, the Britifh ambaffa- 
dor % at the Court of Spain. The moment he arrived, 
he renewed his application to the Board, and, to his 
inexpreffible joy, obtained his requeft 5 " for which,*' 
fays he, " I blefs the Hearer of prayer, and magnify his 
'name.'" As foon as he could arrange his affairs, he left 

the 



THE LIFE OF MR JAMES MEIKLE. lxxi 

the fhip, hailed to London, and took (hip for Berwick, 
whence he travelled on foot to Edinburgh, c< which," 
fays he, " when I faw, I thanked God, and took cou- 
rage." 

Af Carnwath, where he arrived on the 24th of 
March, he thought himfelf, he fays, in a new world. 
No oaths alfaulted his ears j by many religion was pro- 
fefled, and prayer performed - 7 at Biggar, within eight 
miles of his refidcrvce, he had regular accefs to hear the 
go r pel 3 and he found in his neighbourhood, godly men 
with whom he deemed it a happinefs to have it in his 
power to affociate. Kis Sabbaths, in particular, were 
"very different from thofe of the four preceding years. 
" It was a fweet day," fays he, fpeaking of one of his 
firfh Sabbaths at home *, " no dhlurbance, but from a 
wandering heart. I was afraid that I was not fo thank- 
ful as I ought to be." On his road to church en a 
fubfequent one, " I had pleafure," he fays, " in medita- 
tion. The fermon was divine and edifying. O plea- 
fant fituation ! but O ungrateful I !" 

The object which he had had fo long at heart not? 
occupied his attention 5 but a feries of adverfe occur- 
rences had put the attainment of it for fo many years 
out of his reach, that now when he pc fie fled the means 
of profecuting his irudies for the minirtry, he began to 
hefkate concerning what was his duty. He took the 
advice of Teveral qf the moil judicious of his friends, 
and in particular of the Rev. John Patifon, the ve- 
nerable predeceflor of the writer of this Narrative 3 
and the refult was, that confidermg how long Provi- 
dence had cbdiucted his views j that he had already 
(pent thirty-three years of his life, and feveral more muii 
f Z riecefTari-y 



Ixxii- THE LIFE ©F MR JAMES M£IKLE. 

neceffarily elapfe before, according to 'the, rules of the 
religious fociety of "which he was a member, he could 
obtain licence to preach the gofpel j and moreover, that 
his organs of fpeech did not promife that he would ever 
be able to fpeak fo as to meet with general acceptance,/ 
it was his duty to abandon his intention, and to endea- 
vour to ferve God and his generation by the diligent 
application of his talents to the duties of the ftation in 
which he w T as placed. He did fo, and was refpefiable and 
ufeful during life as a furgeon. Though Providence 
thus refufed the aid of his tongue to promote the ih- 
terefts of the gofpel, yet his pen was never unoccupied 
m private in this glorious work \ and it is hoped, that 
now fince he is gone to a better world, his pious ex- 
ample, which it is the bufihefs of thefe meets to record, 
and his pious writings, which the writer of this ac- 
counts it his honour to have been the means of intro- 
ducing to public notice, will long continue to plead the 
caufe of that God whom he ferved, and to refreih the 
fouls of many who are precious in his fight. 

In the private ftation of a country-furgeon, the uni- 
formity of Mr Meikle's life furniflies henceforward few 
incidents which are of fufficient importance to merit a 
detail. The hiflory of religion in his foul is, befides, 
recorded with fufiicient minutenefs in the " Secret Sur- 
vey," in the " Meditations" written after this' period, 
and in the H Monthly Memorial," which together form 
an uninterrupted chain of information concerning -him x 
from the period when he left the navy, to the 2d of 
December 1799, within five days of his deceafe. ': A 
lefs circumstantial account, therefore, of the latter 
period of his life is deemed fufficient,' 

Although- 



THE L17Z OF MR JAMES MEIKLE. IxXlU 

h Mr Mtikle did not immediately abandon 

eel which he had fg long at heait, he was 

bufinefs as a furgeon by the zeal of his 

fj iends loon after he arrived at Camwath, in 1762. 

When he afterwards found that this was to be the em- 

: of his life, he regretted, that, owing to the 

preponderance of a different fubjeft of ftudy, he had 

devoted lei's of his attention to the ftudy of forgery and 

in he ought, and refolved to do what in him 

to repair his error. With this view, he net only 

gave attention to reading in the line of his profeflion, 

but arranged matters fo, that, without material injury 

to his bu c (pent feme months of the fummer of 

1-64 in Edinburgh, in the ftudy of midwifery, and 

feme other branches of fcience. 

With what ability he discharged the duties of his 

itation, the Writer of this has no fufficient means of 

knowledge. He finds, from fome hints in Mr Meikle's 

papers, that the tongue of (lander, in feveral cafes, re- 

j him for the manner in which he had treated 

ients*j and in particular, that -he had fuffered ex- 

iite diftrefs from the malevolent infmuations of a 

perfon from whom he had reaion to expect different 

treatment, refpe&ifig his conduct to his only and much- 

belcved'iifler, the la it but himfelf of his father's family, 

who had kept houfe with him fince his return to his 

native place, and who was cut off by a fever in the 

month of March 177c. One thing, however, is certain, 

that if fome have pra&ifed with greater ikill, none 

ever did fo with greater uprightness of intention, and 

few, very few indeed, with as religious a dependance on 

f 3 God 

*- Solitude Sweetened, Med, XV 111, refers to one of thefe c^I>2 3 



IXXIV TH£ LIFE OF MR JAMES MEIKL£ 

God for his bleffing on the means which he ufed for 
the health and cure of his fellow- creatures, and with as 
confcientious and lively a concern for both their tem- 
poral and fpiritual welfare.. " I deiire," fays he, " to 
bear my patients on my mind m 7 they are my charge •, 
and I always implore a bleffing on the means : for the 
apparently dying I make fupplications in fecret." From 
his memorandums it appears, that before he undertook 
any operation which he deemed difficult, he applied to 
God in fecret for direction and aid ) and many a prayer 
feands recorded in his papers for the fouls of thofe 
whom he has confidered as dangeroufly ill. What reli- 
gious family would not prefer fuch affidance in difirefs 
to that of irreligious perfons of greater celebrity in the 
medical woild ! 

Mr Meikle devoted many of his ieifure -hours, during 
the firfx ten or twelve years after his fettlement in 
Carnwath, to the revifion of the papers which he had 
written at fea, or at an earlier period. Ke tr^anferi- 
feed i6 The Traveller," which occupies the greater 
.part of this volume ; the greater part of " Solitude 
Sweetened, " w T hich was formerly published \ and " A 
Word in Time of 'Need," w T hich may hereafter ap- 
pear. He likewife tranferibed " The Chriltian's Corn- 
pafs ) Poems on the 119th Pfalm," a volume of 34a 
pages 3 " The Traveller Entertained \ or, Poems 
by Sea and Land j" and " The Sacramental Table $ 
cr, Poems on Redeeming Love >" each of which, with 
the fubfequent additions, would make a volume equally 
large. Within the fame fpace, he tranferibed a con- 

fderable part of 'LThe Chriflian ; Spiritual Poems on 
.*'■■ * f- r 



THE LITE OF MR JAMES MZIXLE. iXXV 

fever al Subje&s, relating to the Conduct of Providence, 
and Cafes of the Soul, in Four Parts." To this he 
afterwards made many additions, and, entertaining fe-, 
rious deilgns of publishing it in four fmall volumes, he 
firft took a voyage to London, June" 1790, to offer it 
to the bookfellers, and afterwards propofed to print it 
by fubfeription at home \ but his deiign in both in- 
itances mifgave, for this reafon, among others, that he 
refolutely determined that the volumes ihould appear 
without a name. To this collection of his poetical 
writings mull be added, " The Koufe of Pvlourning, n 
s been printed ; " The Divine Epithalamium, 
or Song of Songs, Paraphrafed," a volume formerly 
mentioned ; " A Poetical Prefent for a Bridegroom 
and Bride j" " Emmanuel j" "Amoenitates 3 or, Mercies 
Acknowledged 5" " and " Heaven j* 1 each consider- 
able pamphlets, befides fome fmaller pieces. 

The number and bulk of thefe manufcripts is fuch, that 
the truth would not be exceeded, had it been faid that, 
inflead of fix or feven volumes, as formerly mentioned, 
they would fill eight volumes iimilar to the prefent. Of 
the publication of them, however, there is little pro- 
fpecl. The public tafle for poetry is nice. It will net 
endure mediocrity ; and Mr Meikle's verfe, though al- 
ways pious, has feldom thofe flights of fancy which are 
often confpicuous even in his profe writings, or that 
fmcothnefs of verification which is now, by the greater 
part, deemed an effential qualification of ppetical cempo- 
fitions. It is indeed to be regretted, that MrMeikle ap- 
pears- to have been fonder of his poetical than of his profe 
QQHJgofitionSj and devoted fc much of that time which he 



VI THE LIFE OF MR JAMES MEIKL2. 

fo highly valued, to a fpecies of writing in which he 
excelled, If, inftead of this, he had cultivated his talents 
for writing in prole, the Chriftian world, indebted as 
they are to him, would have been laid under flill deeper 
obligations by perhaps feveral volumes, equal or fu- 
perior to thofe which he has left for their edification. 

It has already been noticed, that in the year 1770 he 
'loft his only lifter, and that his grief for her lois was 
embittered by the tongue of malice, which afcribed it 
to his want of {kill or of care. In what manner this 
mournful event affected him, may be letn by consulting 
" The Monthly Memorial, 11 and " Secret Survey," at the 
proper dates. When he afterwards fat down, and fur-- 
veyed the dreary folitude in which he was left, his grief 
flowed anew, and he cried out, " O eternity ! all my near 
relatives are fwallowed up in thee, and in a little I 
myielf aifo ihall be no more. 11 It was anusged, how r - 
ever, by the coniideration of the divine wifdcm, and of 
his intereft in the divine, love and care. " O ■ happy,. 
not they who are not afflicted, but they who have fucb 
& friend in their afflictions as I.'' 

His afflictions- do not appear, either on this or on any 
other occafion, to have flackened, but rather to have 
quickened his prbgrefs in the divine life. He continued 
ftrifi in the obfervance of religious duties, and in watch- . 
fulnefs over his own heart. He perfevered in an accurate 
and even minute observation of the conduct of divine 
providence, as f* The Monthly Memorial' 1 every where 
fhows with regard to others, and the w Secret Survey" 
with regard to himfelf. He frequently, as in the earlier 
period of his life, devoted a day or a portion of a day to 
fblemn humiliation, felf- examination, and prayer \ and 

occasionally^ 



THE LIFZ OF MR TAM OJE. IXJtTU 

eccaiion; en he had a oily-fails, 

the reafoirs of fcveral of which 

re, and iaight have been inferted, were not I 
too great a length. The Sabbs 
articular, was the joy of hi He made it his 

patients, exec lbs of emergency, 

:r before or after the hours cf public wcrlhip j and 
rather than be detained from church when he did not 
ace or danger by delaying his vifit, 
rifked incurring the difpleafure cf his employers, 2nd the 
::it Icfs.of employment. DiftinS notices are 
papers of almoft every Sabbath from 
the year 1762 to the day of his death, and ol 

yed, whether at church, in vif:. 
lick, cr at home \ be£des lifts of all the texts which 
.card difcourfed on during that period, often with 
the principal heads of difcourfe, and occasionally with 
*f hints of the frame of his foul while hearing them. 
Mr I had a heart too warmly interefted in the 

Je of Chrift to be able to look with indifference on 
it was palling around him in the Christian world. 
His private papeis record aimed every occurrence in his 
ed which was calculated either to afflict or 
-Jen the hearts of the godly \ the death cf faithful 
as of Chriitiae »s, the icandalcus 

t of profeffors, and the propagation of error, en 
one hand j and the reformation c: andoned, 

apparent fuccefs cf a gofpel- ;mpts to 

nee the interefts of religion, on the ether. They 
are fo pertlcular, indeed, that prudence requires their fi 
ion. 
It was under the influence cf this bolj 

zeal, that, in the yea: 1777, he cc^poied ana pre- 
pared 



Ixxviii THE LIFE CF Mil JAMES MEIKLE. 

pared for the pre {3 a confiderable treatife which has 
been found among his manuscripts in reply to the Rev. 
Dr Dalglielh of Peebles. That gentleman had ralhly 
ilated fome ideas reflecting the Sonihip of Chriit, and 
attempted to fupport them by means of a crude theory 
of animalcular generation, which excited very general 
alarm among the godly in this country. His book has 
fince funk into deferred oblivion \ but While it* yet lived, 
it was attacked, ard lecefc, by a hen of ad 

fa vies. Kow it h . . sned le never pub- 

lilhed his anfwer, though it w ired for the prefix 

is unknown. Kis modefty in vviibiiig to conceal his 
name, and his diffidence left he mould err in writing on 
fo myfterious a fubjeel, it is probable, occaiioned him to 
procraftinate, till others had got the ftart of him, and he 
deemed his anfwer unneceilary. " I intend." fays he, 
Auguil 19. 1777, * ; great fecrecy, and I am full of 
trembling left I ihould err againft the truth which I 
would defend. O to be guided of God, and to give God 
the glory !" 

After the death of his fitter, Mr Meikle found, m a 
greater degree than formerly, the neceflity of entering 
into the marriage- ilate. He had made fever al attempts 
before that event, which it would be improper to detail, 
as well as fome after it, which mifgave - 7 and it was not 
till the 1 8th &zy of Auguft 1779, that he was bleffed 
with a partner of his cares, and a helper of his faith and 
joy. " It had always been"," he fays, " Secret Survey" 
•fcr that date, " a ruling principle with me, not to be 
unequally yoked with unbelievers." How deeply his 
, mind was impreffed with the neceflity of religion in one's 
partner fur life, is itjikingly mown by a fmall tract 

writ tea 



: LIFE OF MR JAMES MEIKLE. lx: 

Written by him on tlie eve of his marriage, but from 
which, the length to which this narrative ha? rUii'out will 
not permit an extract co be made. He fought a religious 
wife, and Gcd at length heard his prayers. Re was 
married to Agnes Smith, the daughter of a refpeclabls 
farmer in his neighbourhood, and married, there is every 
reafon to think, 4 ' in the Lord.'" 

In the profpecl of entering into this new relation, his 
intended wife and he, five days before, entered into an 
agreement f a very different tenor from thofe which 
commonly occupy the fole attention of perfons en the 
eve of marriage : an agreement which refers net to the 
prefent world, but to the future. It is in preservation, 
and the reader would regret its cmiffion. It runs thus : 

" As in all our ways we ought to acknowledge God, 
that he may direct our ileps ; fo, in profpecl of our pro- 

d connection. is of great moment, it is the 

duty of each of us to implore the divine direction, and 
beg the heavenly blefling ; and, in entering into it, to 
keep the following things in view : 

" i. As we mould neither eat nor drink for our- 
felves, fo in our marriage we ihculd eye his glory, and 

v to live together as heirs of the grace of Hie. - 

" 2. As there is fome difference in our views of 
feme things, in (lead of fuflering this to breed diiccrd 
and contention between us, let it beget in us a proper 
concern for the divifions of Reuben, and continual firp- 

:aticn for the peace and prefperity of Zion, that as 
there is one Lord, 10 his name may be one in all the 
earth. 

M 3. Let us expect troubles and rrials while in the 
world, bear them with patience, and feek to get good 

of them. 



1XXX ' THE LIFE OF MR JAMES MEIKLE. 

a 4, Let us take it for granted that each of us will 
find fome failing to bear with in the other, and fo refoive 
beforehand to behave wifely towards each other *, never 
to be both angry at once, to cover one another's faults, 
and to forgive one another, 

" 5. Let us ftudy to efteem, refpect, and comfort 
one another, and fo to live in love. 

" 6. Let it be our joint and earned requefT, that the 
-grace of God may be in our hearts, his peace rule there, 
and his bleffing red on our houfe. 

" 7. If bleiied with children, let us remember that 
they are but loans, and may be foon recalled \ and when 
one corrects, the other is not to defend them. Let us 
bring them up for God, and much rather wifh to fee 
them gracious than great, 

" 8. Let us remember that it is only the heavenly 
favour that can make us happy, with little or with 
much •, for mould he be provoked to fend an evil fpirit 
between us, w r e would be miferabie, whatever we might 
poffefs. 

" 9. Let us depend on the providence of God with 
greater quiet and confidence than on gathered fums. 

" 10. Hereby we alfo engage, that the wormip of 
God is to be kept up daily in our family, even though 
the hufband mould be_ called from home all night. 

" ii. Moreover, w T e are never to feek heaven on 
earth, or expecl to rind felicity below ; and fo we mud 
welcome that lot, profpereus or afThcied, which Heaven 
fees it' fit to fend. 

" 12. Let us remember that one of us may be 
fnatched away by death before -the other, and leave 
the furviver drowned in forrow 5 but let us ftudy fo to 

walk, 



THE LIFE OF MR JAMES MEIKLE. lxxxi 

walk, that the furviver need not forrow as they that have 
no hope. 

" 13. Let us remember that this is not our reft, 
becaufe it is polluted, and let us rejoice that there re- 
jnaineth a reft for the people of God. 

" 14. In all things let us endeavour to adorn the 
doctrine of God our Saviour, and to have our converfa- 
lion in heaven, from whence we expect the Saviour to 
come. 

" Aug. 13. 1779. (Signed) " James Meikle. 

" Agnes Smith." 

The fecond article of this engagement makes it necef- 
fary to mention, that Mrs Meikle was connected with 
that branch of the Seceflion which is denominated Anti- 
burgher, while Mr Meikle himfelf was in communion 
with the other, ftyled Burgher. Though they belonged 
to different communions, neither appears to have been 
animated by the intolerant fpirit of party. They mu- 
tually granted the liberty of confcience which they 
demanded ; and enjoyed that pleafure and delightful 
harmony in private Chriftian fellowfhip, which the mem- 
bers of both focieties, if poffeffed of a little more of their 
fpirit, might enjoy in church-fellowfhip, not withftan ding 
the minute and unimportant points in which they differ. 
In proof of this, it is not unworthy of notice, that Biggar* 
where Mr Meikle attended divine wor(hip, lies fome 
miles beyond Ellfrighill, where the Congregation of 
which Mrs Meikle was a member affembled \ and that he 
ufually conducted his wife in the morning to Ellfrighill, 
and returned by the fame road in the evening to 
bring her home, It appears alfo from a paper which 

g has 



IXZXU THE LIFE OF MR JAMES MEIKLE* 

has been found in his poffeflion, that he interefted him- 
felf deeply in procuring afliftance for the worthy man 
under whofe rniniftry (he fat, whofe circumftances, 
through the poverty of his congregation, were very much 
flraitened. To thefe proofs that they not only lived in 
harmony, but as heirs together of the grace of life, others 
might be added. It is enough to mention further, that 
it was their cuftom, belides the prayers of the family, 
and fecret prayer, to join together in prayer by turns 
after they went to bed, before they compofed themfelves 
to ireep * \ and that occafionally, when they could find 
convenience, they devoted a day, or a part of a day, to 
folemn humiliation and prayer. 

A paper dated February 3. 1 780, and entitled " For 
a family fa ft," has been found in Mr Meikle's hand- writ- 
ing, and fubfcribed both by him and his wife, which will 
give feme idea of the manner in which thefe days of 
private devotion were obferved. It is arranged under 
four heads *, confeffions, grateful acknowledgement?, 
petitions, and reiolutions. They confefs before God, 
' k Hat they have not in all things fet God before them ; 
that they have 'found too much pleafure in peri/hing 
n gs 5 that they have fometimes had unbelieving fears 
dlftruft of divine providence ; that they have felt an 
nation at times to prefcribe to God with refpedT: to 
it he (hould give or with-hold \ that they do not im- 
sre time and the quiet which they enjoy as they ought ; 
rtiat they are not fo deeply affected with the fins of 
others, nor with the afflictions and divifions of Zion as 
"hey (hould -, and that they have not a due fenfe of gra- 
titude for the many comforts of their lot. They ex- 
ptfefe their gratitude to God for the appearance of religion 

in 
* See Monthly Manorial, O&. 8. 1781. 



TEE LIFE OF MR JAMES MEIKLE". Ixxxill 

in their family ) for the peace and harmony enjoyed in 
their houfe = for the bounty of providence in fupplying 
their wants - ? for the good crop which they had laft tes- 
; for their continued health, while many around 
them were articled j and becaufe their dependance was 
on the providence of heaven, ap.d not on creature-fecuri- 
ty. Their petitions are, that religion may fiouri{h-> and 
profeffors fee eye to eye in the truth j that grace may be 
beftowed Gn themfelves, and on all their friends \ that 
if children are given them, they may belong to the elec- 
tion of grace, and early know God \ that the blefling 
of the womb and the breads may come together ; that 
both may be enabled to inilruct and correct children, if 
given them, as becometh Chriftian parents j and the like. 
And their refolutions are, not to build their happinefs en 
the creature ; to fubmit without murmuring to death 
when fent into their family ) to keep their hearts for God, 
and not to give them to any other $ to approve of Pro- 
vidence, mould he be pleafed to bereave them of their 
all, feeing they had their treafure in heaven \ to keep 
up the worfhip of God in their houfe \ and, finally, to 
look out for death, and improve for eternity. 

Some months after, Mr Meikle difcovers the grati- 
tude of his heart for the happinefs he enjoyed in the 
marriage-relation, and the tender iolicitude of an affection- 
ate and pious hufband, by exprefiing himfelf in this man- 
ner : " May 30. 1780. I wiih to implore divine mercy 
in thefe things. 1. That as God has been pleafed to 
fet me, who was once folitary, in a family, and bellowed on 
me one that fears his name, he would be pleafed to fpare . 
her, and increafe her graces. 2. As it has pleafed 
Heaven that me is with child, and near her time, that 
the child may be God's in life or in death. O that its 

g 2 foul 



Ixxxiv THE I2FE OP MR JAMES MEIKLE. 

foul may live before God ! 3. That the may have a 
happy delivery, and that I may blefs God for a living 
mother and a living child, 4. That if the child be 
fpared, it may be early brought home to God* 5. I 
acknowledge that I leaned on thy providence for pro- 
viding me a help-mate, and I have not had caufe to com- 
plain of my divine fupport and guide. O to act faith 
always on him !" 

This happinefs did not long continue. Mrs Meikle,. 
fome months after the birth of her firir child, fell into 
bad health. Hopes and fears appear for a long period 
to have had the afcendancy alternately in his mind \ and 
her recovery, uniformly for more than twelve months, 
forms one of the petitions recorded in his private papers. 
On the 17th of May 1781, they united together in Am- 
plications to God for the reftoration of her health, and 
exprefs themfelves thus : ** On account of the long 
diftrefs in our family, we defire to humble ourfelves be- 
fore God, and to juftify the heavenly conduct \ for we 
have finned, and have had our hearts too little on our 
native country, too little on heavenly things. While 
we accept of chaftifement from our heavenly Father, we 
defire to turn to him that fmites us \ and we humbly 
plead, j. For patience till he remove his rod from us. 
2. For the fan&ified ufe of this affliction. 3. That he 
would be pleafed to reflore to fuch a meafure of health, 
that we may be enabled to attend on facramental folem- 
nities in the enfuing fummer, and find his prefence there« 
4. That he would direft us to right means for recovery, 
and blefs the means ufed. 5. That we may not rely 
too much on the means ufed, but look to him alone a 
6. That he may blefs our child, and hold his hand about 
her, 7» That he may give us his fpecial prefence in 

the. 



THE LIFE OF MR JAMES MI3KLE, lxXXY 

the time of our affliction, and make all tend to his glory 
and our good. 

(Signed) " J. Meikle. 

44 Agnes Meikle." 

The affliclion, however, continued and increafed during 
the enfuing fummer. His prayers and tears could not 
avert the flroke with which Providence deiigned to 
ehaften him. She languifhed till fhe brought forth a 
fecond child, which was frill-born, and furvived this event 
only three weeks. On the nth of Oclober 1781, he 
was left a widower, mourning the lofs of an amiable 
partner, yet not mourning as one of thofe who have no 
hope of their own happinefs, or of the happinefs of thofe 
who have been matched from their embraces. 

His exercife on this mournful occafion may be learned 
by perufing the Monthly Memorial, and Secret Survey, 
under the proper date. In addition to what is to be 
found there, it appears from fome other private papers, 
that he revered the providence of God in the difpenfa- 
tion, fubmitted to it as the correction of a father, and 
amidft his grief rejoiced in the perfuafion of the happi- 
nefs of her whofe lofs he bewailed. On the 22d of 
Oclober he writes thus : " This day my dear wife and 
I intended a private fall * 5 but now ihe is removed by 
death, and I am left alone to mourn the lofs of a reli- 
gious companion. O to take God in place of all ! O 
comfort me againii: grief on every fide ! I wi(h not to 
have a flupid infeniibility of fach a lofs \ I wiili alfo not 
to rife up in rebellion againii the ccnducl of Heaven ? 
who is fovereign of all. I deiire to lie low in the duft, 
and to go foftly, becaufe thou hafl done it." And on 

the 

* For fome days after her delivery fhe was apparently re- 
covering. 



Ixxxvi THE LIFE OF MR JAMES MEIKLE. 

the 25th he expreffes himfelf in this manner. M This 
day in my foiitude, and after the lofs of a dear wife, a 
religious companion, I defire to take God for my God, 
and the God of my child \ and I make a chearful fur- 
render of my felt and my child to God. I roll her over 
on his divine protection \ and though I too were to be 
called out of the world, I can commit her to him, the 
bed of parents and the heft of guardians, who is a father 
of the fatherlefs. I wifh to live only for his glory, and to 
his praife." The fame day, among the mercies which 
he acknowledges to the praife of God, he enumerates the 
following : <; That my deareft friend is gone to glory \ 
that my child is in good health \ that God, though he 
has afRi died j has not call me off 3 that there is a fulnefs 
cf grace and confolation in God for me \ — that God has 
been pleafed to connect me with a dear faint, and to 
blefs us with the greater! peace and harmony in cur mar- 
ried life, though he has feen fit to make it very lliort ; 
but the thought is fweet, that (he is gone to glory." 

Mrs Meikle's character may be defcribed in her huf- 
band's words, propcfed to be engraved on her monument ; 

" How fweet me (hone in focial life, 
As daughter, fitter, friend, and wife I 
The clofet, field, and fhady grove, ♦ 

Atteft her pray'rs, her vows, her love. 
Now done with all below the fun, 
She mines before the higheft throne* 
Her race was fwift, her reft is fweet, 
Her views divine, her blifs complete ) 
Her fong's fublime, her tranfports fwellj 
Her flate eternal, God her all : 
This, this alone, her hulband cheers, 
And joy wipes off the briny tears." 

Here, 



THE LIFE OF MR JAMES MEIELE. IxXXVU 

Here, however, though with reluctance, the writer 
of this muft flop. The unexpected length to which this 
narrative has run out, obliges him to forbear entering 
into any details of the remaining eighteen years of Mr 
Meikle's life, and to break off his account at the very 
period when his perfonal acquaintance with him began* 
Materials ftill remain for exhibiting his character and 
exercife in various points of view. If what has been 
written mould meet with acceptance, and promife to be 
ufeful, he may be induced to enlarge his account, and 
carry it down to the clofe of Mr Meikle's life 3 if not, 
more than enough has been already faid. 

He cannot clofe his account of him, however, without 
mentioning, in a word, that he was married again, in the 
month of November 1785, to the worthy woman who 
yet furvives to mourn his lofs ; that in July 1789 he 
was ordained to the elder (hip in the congregation of 
Biggar •, that in the courfe of the year 1797, having 
overcome the reluctance to appear profeffedly as an 
Author, which had prevented the publication of thofe 
pieces which he had formerly intended for the prefs, he 
printed his " Metaphyseal Maxims }" and that on the 
7th of December 1799 he was removed from this world 
to a better, leaving: behind him a name which is better 
than precious ointment, and a widow and five children 
with little on which to depend for future fupport but 
the good providence of that God, who, to ufe his own 
words, " had guided him through all his wanderings, 
and fupplied him during life to his heart's content.' 1 

The chearfulnefs of his difpofition' continued to the 
lafl. Difappointments never foured his temper. Though 
ftricl: both in his principles and, morals, he never appear- 
ed fallen Gr axcrofe ) he was rather cheat alar, 

and 



IxXXViii THE LIFE OF MR JAMES MEIKLEe 

and merry. There does not appear, for forty years, 
among all his voluminous papers, notwithftanding the 
many fevere cenfures which he paffes in them upon him- 
felf, one expreffion from which it can be certainly con- 
cluded, that he entertained any doubt of his intereft in 
the divine favour. This, and the conflitutional gaiety 
of his temper, will account for the furprife which many 
of his mod intimate acquaintances have expreffed at the 
perufal of his writings, and explain what otherwife 
might be deemed paradoxical, that a man uniformly 
chearful in company mould in private make death and 
the future world the favourite fubjects of his meditations. 
To him death was furrounded with no terrors ! the 
future world captivated his imagination, and filled him, 
as frequently as he contemplated it, with moil exquifite 
joy. He maintained his reputation for piety, and his 
unfhaken faith in God, to the end ; and the God whom 
he ferved honoured him with continued ufefulnefs in his 
fcatlon, almoft to his lait hour. On the firft of Decem- 
ber, he officiated at Lanark as an elder in the difpenfa- 
trion of the Lord's (upper ; on the fecond, he wrote a 
'fliort article in the Monthly Memorial; on the fixth, he 
was (till ferving medicines to his patients; on the feventh, 
be was with God. 

Edinburgh, "J J. P c 

June 12. 1805. J 



THE 



THE TRAVELLER. 



MEDITATION I. 

GOING ABROAD. 



▼ V HAT a load of builnefs preffes me on every hand 
"when about to leave my native country ! I muft ixate 
and clear with all my creditors and debtors before I go ! 
Befides, when I am about my ordinary bufinefs, a little 
pocket-money will defray my charges ; but it is not fo 
when going abroad ; I muft have bills of exchange for a 
confiderable fum, and changes of apparel agreeable to 
that part of the world to which I am bound. 

Now, if I am thus burled, thus anxious and concern- 
ed about my going from one part to another of this 
terreftrial globe, with what juftke will all this care, 
anxiety, and concern, be increafed, when I muii com- 
mence my journey to eternity, and fet out for the other 
world ? This is an event that unavoidably awaits me 5 
and who can tell how foon ? Of what folly would I 
prove rcyfelf poffefled, fhould I propofe to go fo far 

A without 



3 THE TRAVELLER. 

without a farthing ? But with much greater madnefs 
would I be intoxicated, mould I launch into eternity 
without an intereft in the heavenly treafure. To be 
poor in any part of this world, begets contempt among 
the men of the world \ but poverty in the world of 
fpirits is an eternal fhame, and an irretrievable lofs. 

Again, would I not blufh to go with tattered cloaths 
and clouted moes, to a part of the world where it is 
fafhionahle to be finely dreffed ? How, then, fhall I 
appear without the white raiment of a Saviour's righ- 
teoufnefs, in the prefence of God, where angels walk 
in robes of innocence, and faints in broidered gar- 
ments ? When the marriage of the Lamb fhall be 
come, and his wife (hall have made herfelf ready, if 
found without the wedding-garment, with what confu- 
fion of face fhall I be covered, and with what anguifh 
caft into outer darknefs ! 

How am I hurried at the lafl in fetting out, notwith- 
flanding I have been fo long propofing, and fo long pre- 
paring for, this voyage ! Yea, an exprefs arrives, that 
the ihip is ready to fail, and I am taken, as it were, 
unawares, though for fome time I have been expecting 
fuch a meffage. Then, iince I have this momentous, 
this intereiting voyage into the world of fpirits before 
me, let my daily fiudy be fo to fet all my grand con- 
cerns in order, that when death the tranfport comes, I 
may have nothing to do but fet my foot aboard, and be 
wafted over to* the land of reft, Agai;i, though look- 
ing for death daily, yet I, and all my friends, may be 
furprifed at lafr» 

Now of friends and acquaintances I take a long 
farewell \ but at death I bid the whole world an eternal 
adieu. 

MEDI- 



THE TRAVELLER. % 

MEDITATION II. 

> , 

ON TAKING FAREWELL. 

1757. 

Every thing beneath the fun has vanity and vexation 
engraven on it ; and it is fit it fhould be To, left men, 
j>offe fling what they afpire after, fhould forget them- 
felves. So we fee, we feel, that pleafure is interwoven 
with pain, fweet with four, joy with fcrrow, riches 
with anxiety and cares, greatnefs with torment, health 
with difeafe, and life with death* 

When I took farewell of my friends to fee other na- 
tions> and rife into a more univerfal knowledge of the 
world and men, (trifles that pleafe an afpiring mind), 
yet how were ail my fine profpects more than balanced 
to think, that I might never fee my native land again, 
the land of liberty and light, the Heph%\lah of God ! 
What if I mould drop into the unfathomed deeps of 
the ocean, and be a prey to the finny tribe ? But, ab- 
ftrafling from thefe gloomy forethoughts, how was joy 
turned into a flow of friendly fcrrow ! Can I yet forget 
the affectionate grafp of hand, the melting fear, the part- 
ing iifs, and kindly koh. as if it might have been the lafl *', 
and all from friends fo near and dear ? Yet this muft be j 
I mufr either forbear going abroad, or take farewell of 
all my friends j 3nd who knows if ever I mall fee them 
again, till in another world, where the neareft ties are 
lcofed, and the deareft relation diflblved, unlefs a fpiri- 
tual relation unite our fouls to him, of whom the whole 
family in heaven and earth is named, a family that fhall 

A 2 never 

•' * The Author never faw fome friends, alluded to above, 
again in life, particularly his mother. 



4 THE TRAVELLER. 

never fcatter or be difperfed through the ages of eter- 
nity ! The higheft wifdom of the traveller, then, is to 
get himfelf made a member of the heavenly family, 
Thus, when the fiail family, of which he is a mortal 
member, mud be divided, parted, and fpread abroad, 
fome in death, fome in difiant lands, he fhall never be 
cad out of the celefiial family, nor denied the high privi- 
leges thereof, but may cry to God, Abba, Father, and 
ihail find him not far off, when roaring oceans interrupt 
the father's paffionate care, and bound the tender mother's 
melting flow of affection. Without fuch a relation we 
are orphans, though we had the ben 1 of fathers, and 
the kindeft of mothers; we are friendlefs, though we 
had the mo ft fympathifmg lifters, and obliging brothers % 
deftiture, amidft our numerous, rich, and munificent re- 
lations ; and more defolate than the pelican of the wil- 
dernefs, or the midnight owl, though crowded with vi- 
£tants, and among a world of acquaintances. But, 
blefied with it, no tongue can tell our happinefs Our 
heavenly Father, who knows Gur need, is ever at our 
hand \ his power and promptitude to do us good exceed 
the father, excel the kindly mother \ his mercy out- 
fhmes the fympathifing fillers, and his bounty the obli- 
ging brother \ his promifes are better than all our rela- 
tions, his providence than our richeft friends ) and his 
prefence than a world of acquaintance, or the levee of 
kings. In fuch a Situation, the deferts of Arabia fhall 
pleafe, like the places where we were born and brought 
up. May this, then, be my cafe, and I am happy in 
my peregrinations, and joyful in my journeys. 



1HE TRAVELLER. 5 

MEDITATION III. 

THE TEMPER OF HIM THAT GOES ABROAD. 

Now I leave my native land in peace with all, and 
wifh well to friends and foes, as no doubt I have both. 

Gratitude binds me not to forget my friends \ grace, 
to forgive my foes. He carries but a poor principle in 
bis bread, that gees away fwoln with rage, in hopes to 
return and rever.ge : for " anger refts only in the boiom 
of fools. *' It is a Chrifxian grace to forgive even the 
word of injuries ; for it ennobles a man more to con- 
quer the wicked principle of hi t nature, than to 
take a city. Would I revenge a perianal quarrel 
any at the day of judgement ? Surely no. Shall I, 
then, carry ranccur to the very gi"ave, or lie down in a 
condition in which I would not wiih to rife r There, 
my pafficn (hall be converted into pity, and I will 
only forgive men what they may have done amifs to 
me, but implore forgivenefs for them in t] erein 
they may have offended God. Thus (hall I go lightly, 
compared with the mental madman who cheriihes re- 
venge. Pie continually carries about with him a load 
of hurtful two edged weapons, in hopes to find his Toe, 
and fatiate his revenge upon him ; hut, while he waits hu> 
opportunity, he flips a foot, and falls among the pointed 
weapons, which wound him unto death. So muft every 
malicious perfon fare at lair, who falls over the preci- 
pice of time into eternity, full of envy, and inflamed 
with wrath, 

A3 :: 



THE TRAVELLER, 

MEDITATION IV. 

ON FINDING MANY PASSENGERS ON SHORE. 

Leith, March 1758. 

Before I came from home, I knew not of a (ingle 
perfon but myfelf that was to fet out from the fame 
port to the fame place } but, on my arrival here, I find 
a great many from every corner cf the land, waiting a 
fair wind to forward them in their intended pafTage. 
And may not this call to my mind, that, though only 
now and then, one here, and another there, departs 
this life, -yet on the confines of endlefs ages, on the 
bcrders of the invifihle world, what numbers of depart- 
ing fouls are daily paffing from every part of the inha- 
bited globe, to appear before the tremendous bar ! 

If we glance the mortality-bills of well-peopled cities, 
the numbers that daily die are aftonifhing. And 
though nothing be more common than death, yet nothing 
is more affecting than diflbluticn. 

I have taken one ilep, which may remind me of ano- 
ther that ihall overtake me, and that, being my laft 
tranilation, ihall never be fucceeded by a future. Let 
not, then, my improvidence in fpiritual things, caufe 
me to repent, when repentance, though perpetuated, 
may be too late* 

MEDI- 



THE TRAVELLER, 7 

MEDITATION V. 

ON ARRIVING AT A STRANGE CIIY. 

London. 

Thousands and ten thoufands are the inhabitants of 
this place, and yet few or none of them do I know. 
How foon is man a flrariger among his fellow- crea- 
tures ! He may be acquainted with the people where 
he was born and brought up, or where he dwelt \ but 
a few days jcurney convinces him, even among the 
multitude of men, that he is a ftranger on this earth j 
for where he is acquainted with one, he is unacquainted 
with ten thoufands. This admonifhes me to account 
the world a ftrange country, and myfelf as only palling 
through it to my native country, and therefore to fix 
my affections on the things that are above, whither I 
am haftening. 

My next reflection leads me out to admire thine om- 
nifcience with altoniihment. Not a perfon among thcfe 
many thoufands but thou kftoweft their bufinefs, their 
actions, and their way of life, yea more, their words 
and very thoughts. Thcu alfo rulefc and governefl 
them in all their various actions, numbers of whom 
have never known thee. Nor dees the conduct of thy 
providence only extend to this circle of men, but to 
every individual through the extenfive univerfe. O 
wifdom to be adored ! O power to be depended on I 
And (hall not I, who am but one, truft in thee who 
ordered all the world fo well ! Not only the peace- 
ful village in its ordinary round of human life, but the 
hoitile plain in all the tumult and confufion of war, 
cenfeffes thy fceptre. Then, if all have an interefl.in 

thy 



S THE TRAVELLER. 

thy common providence, lhall not I have an intereft m 
thy fpecial care ? 

My next reflection is on the almoft incredible num- 
bers of my fellow creatures who v inhabit here; and if I 
throw my thought through the world, what greater 
numbers, what nations are held in life ! what then msft 
the general affembly at the great affize be, if, according 
to 'ome, every thirty or forty years fweeps the world 
of all its inhabitants ? By the fame great God, 
who now governs with wifdom, fnall all this mighty 
affembly be judged with equity, who will render to 
every one according to his works. While thoufands 
hang their head for (hame. may I be among thofe who* 
(hall lift up their face with joy before the great congre- 
gation. 



MEDITATION VI. 

GOOD AND BAD MEN MIXED TOGETHER XI? 
THE WORLD. 

London, April 16. 175S, 
Now the world of mankind is a mingled multitude y 
good and bad are mixed together ) wheat and tares 
grow in one field \ yea, they dwell now in one houfe, 
of whom at the laft day one mail be taken, and the 
other left. This is a grievance which cannot be avoid- 
ed, for we mult have connection with the wicked in the 
affairs of life, elfe we muft go out of the world. Eut 
to fome perfons, as to me at prefent, there are certain 
flages of life, in which they are as it were chained with the 
wicked, and hand cuffed with the fons of vice, to whom 

tier 



THE TRAVELLER. 3 

the things of God are foolidinefs, and by whom the 
concerns of the immortal foul are never taken into con- 
federation. They live as if they were to live for ever 
in this prefent ft ate, or as if when they die they mould 
never fee a refurredion. 

What comfort, then, fhould it be to my foul, that 
He who once made all things, will again make all 
things new ! He will, as in the eld creation, divide, 
not only between night and day, but between the fons 
of night, and the children of the day. And while 
thofe are covered with fhame and confufion of face, and 
caft into the blacknefs of darkneis for ever, the righ- 
teous (hall fhine as the ftars, and as the fun in the king- 
dom of their Father. Then (hall the people fpeak a 
pure language, and to the people of a pure language 
will the Lord turn, in all the brighteft manifestations 
of his glory. Perverfe thoughts within, and profar.fi 
talk without, (hall no more difquiet. Neither wicked 
company nor wandering cogitations (hall vex the child 
of God any more in the hcufe of God. Then they 
that waik with him in white, mail talk with one an- 
other on the fublirceft fubjecls of eternity, en the love 
and fuflferings of the Son of God. Idle words in that 
ftate of 'perfection (ball cea r e, where every fpeech is 
pure and fpotlefs, every whifper celeiiial, every word 
divine, and all is one tavifhing crccrrJcip. en redeeming 
love ! 



MEDI- 



X« THE TRAVELLER. 

MEDITATION VII. 

ON BEING ENABLED TO RESIST A TEMPTATIOK. 

L c?:don y April 17. 1758. 

Grace to help in time of need is the gift of God to 
the child of grace, and the greateft blefling we can re- 
ceive from heaven in a fxate expofed to temptations 
from every quarter. 

All within me defires to blefs thy holy name, that 
when the temptation was near, thou waft not far off $ 
and that, as it was comment with thy divine wifdom to per- 
mit me to be tempted to fin, it was alfo confident with thy 
grace and goodnefs to flrengthen and deliver me when I 
was tempted. As my finite wifdom cannot prevent, 
by timeous fore fight, my being overtaken with temp- 
tations, fo my feeble powers cannot refill when over- 
taken. I. have thy providence, therefore, ta magnify, 
that I am not overtaken with more temptations than I 
am \ and thy grace to adore, that I am not overcome 
with every temptation that I am overtaken with. 

Human nature (and in me more fo than in many) is 
like a pile of dry and prepared wood for fuel, and 
temptation is like a fpark of fire call: into it ; then it 
mud be power -divine that hinders all from going into a 
blaze. O kind companion ! O tender mercy ! O glo- 
rious good will ! I am nothing j hence I fhall think 
humbly of myfelf, but highly of thy grace. 

What a thorny path is human life ! Plow is it flrow- 
ed with fnares, gins, and traps, for head and feet, for 
heart and hands. If I lift up my head in pride, I fall 

into 



THE TRAVELLER. II 

into the condemnation of the devil. If I look not well 
to my goings, I am cafi into a net by my own feet, and 
walk upon a fnare. Vanity is ready to fill my heart, 
and wickednefs my hands. Not an orgarfbf my body, but 
Satan has his battery played againil it \ for my ear, the 
inlrruclion that caufeth to err ; for my fight, the lull of the 
eye \ and for my touch, the handling of the things that pe- 
riih. He turns delire into covetoufnefs, care into anxiety, 
fear into defpair - y would run down hope, mlfcall faith, 
and call the foul loofe of both. Seeing, then, that I am 
thus befet with fnares on every fide, from every hand, 
O that on my foul, my one precious ftone, there may 
be/even eyes, and a protection round about me better 
than horfes and chariots of fire. 

Two leflbns I am taught, which, through grace, I 
never mall forget : I. To be diffident of myfelf ; 2. To 
be confident in God, flrong in his grace, and to boafl 
in him all the day long. Let the fanclity of my after 
life, (hew the finceiity of my gratitude. And may I 
mind with joy, that thy name, as to my fweet ex- 
perience I have found, is a " prefent help in time of 
trouble. 1 ' 



MEDITATION VIII. 

THE PROMISES A DIVINE TREASURE. 

London, April 1Q. 1758. 

Once, with the unthinking world, I e deemed the 

poor miferable, and called, if ^iot the proud, yet the 

rich happy ; but now, fince I glanced the volumes of 

' . revelation, 



11 THE TRAVELLER. 

revelation, I am of another mind. If we compare 
poor and rich in fcriptu re-account, we eafily fee a 
mighty odds ; for while a threatening is dropt here and 
there againft the one, to the other pertain the precious 
promifes. " Woe to you that are rich, for ye have re- 
ceived your confolation." " Goto now, ye rich men, weep 
and howl for your miferies that fhall come upon you." 
Thus riches, though not a curfe in themfelves, yet, to 
depraved and corrupt nature, yield fo many opportuni- 
ties, fet fo many baits to fin, that it is a facred and 
friendly admonition, " Labour not to be rich." Were 
we only to infpecl: the lives and deaths of the righteous, 
it might make us welcome poverty that defends us, by 
depriving us of fo many opportunities to deftroy our- 
felves % y but when we fee the furprifing expreflions of 
paternal care that Heaven has repleniihed the oracles 
of truth with, we can do no lefs than account the poor 
the happy ones \ for fuch is the mercy of God, that 
when a man is in mifery, then he becomes the object of 
his mercy. 

Now, to fliew that the promifes of God are not bare 
expreflions of good will, let his providential conduct be 
furveyed, as recorded in the w T ord of truth, and that in 
a few inftances. 

Hagar, an Egyptian, Sarah's handmaid, flees from 
the face of her unfriendly miflrefs \ flees, to whom (he 
knows not, whither (he cannot tell. She fits down by a 
well of water in the wildernefs, no doubt overcome 
with forrow. But then the angel of the Lord accofts 
her j tells her that the Lord had heard her affliction $ 
fpeaks comfort to her, and makes her a promife, under 
a grateful fenfe of all which, (he calls the name of the 
Lord, that thus prevented her with unexpected kind- 

nefc, 



THE TRAVELLER. 13 

nefs, '\Thou, God, feefl me." — Again, the fame Hagat 
is plunged into a new fcene of diitrefs. Her care 
and confufion are augmented, as (he is not now alone 
in her perplexity, but has her fon, her only fon with 
her, the object of her fonder! affection, and the hope 
of her infirm old age. The bottle is fpent, and the 
{tripling, for thirft, the woril of all deaths, mufr die. 
Her melting bowels being unable to behold the agony 
of his laft moments, (he lays him dov;n under a ihrub, 
to fcreen him from the fultry heat, and goes away from 
him. Yet maternal care will not let her go too far 
away \ fo (he fits down over againft him, and fixes her 
eyes on the melancholy fpot. And now her grief can- 
not be contained, as before, in agitating thoughts, 
but burlls out in briny tears : She litts up her voice 
aloud, and weeps. Well, the God that faw her before, 
fees her (till, The voice of the lad. who no doubt 
mingled his tears and complaints with his mother's, is 
heard \ and Hagar's eyes are opened to fee a fountain, 
at which (lie fills the bottle, gives him drink, and he 
revives again. 

It may not be amifs to name a few more inn 1 an- 
ces of providential care \ as, Lot's refcue by Abra- 
ham, when he and all he had were taken captive 5 
and afterwards, his miraculous deliverance out of So- 
dom : — Jacob's prefervation from angry Laban, when 
purfued' and overtaken by him : and his frill more 
amazing deliverance from Efau's rooted revenge, which 
is converted into congratulations, tears, and embraces : 
— The ailoniming hiftory of Jofeph, through all its un- 
paralleled fcenes :- — The deliverance of the children of 
Ifrael, when their bondage was grown infupportable, 
leading them through the Red Sea, while their pur- 

B fuers 



X4 THE TRAVELLER. 

faers periihed in the waters, feeding them in the wii- 
dernefs with manna from heaven, and keeping their 
clothes from waxing old. And how many times, in the 
book of Judges, even when his people had finned againfl 
him, did he {hew mercy to them in their extremity of 
mifery ? The accounts of Naomi, Ruth, and Hannah, 
fhew how the mercy of God takes place in all the cir- 
cumftances of the afflicled. The memorable paffage of 
the ark of God in the Philiftines' land > Jonathan's vic- 
tory over the Philiftines \ the death of giant Goliah, 
who had defied the armies of Ifrael, by the hand of 
David, who afterwards has a beautiful chain of delive- 
rances from a perfecuting Saul, and in his old age from 
the rebellion of his unnatural fon *, the protection of the 
feven and thirty worthies, amidft the dangers they w T ere 
expofed to ; Elijah fed by ravens, creatures that live on 
carrion, and yet they bring bread and flefh to the man of 
God twice a-day ! the widow's barrel of meal, and crufe 
of oil, bleffed fo as not to wafte by ufing } Elijah's forty 
days journey in the ftrength of one meal ; fmall ar- 
mies defeating great hofis ) armies fupplied with water in 
a miraculous way ; the barren woman m,ade to bear \ the 
dead reftored to life again } poifon prevented from doing 
mifghief, and food augmented - y the three children pre* 
fervedin the fire, and Daniel in the lion's den \ all manner 
of difeafes cured by Chrifr, and his fervants, the pro- 
phets and apoftles - ? the lepers cleanfed, the blind 
made to fee, the deaf to hear, the dumb to fing, and 
the lame to leap ^ the deliverance of the difciples on 
the lake, of Peter, when finking, and afterwards when 
kept in prifon, a deftined facrifice to cruelty and rage ) 
Paul's efcape when watched in Damafcus, and when 
laid faft in the flocks with Silas, in the inner prifon ; 

when 



THE TRAVELLER. 15 

when mipwrecked, and when the viper fattened on his 
hand: — Thefeare fome inftances that the promifes of God 
have been made out to his people in their adverfities. 
And iet thofe, on the one hand, who have no changes, 
and therefore fear not God, know, that they have nei- 
ther part nor lot in thefe promifes. But, on the other 
hand, let him know that fufFers under the greater! load 
of afflictions, that he has a right to the great eft number 
of promifes \ and that whenever he lofes another enjoy- 
ment, then he has a right to another promife, which 
makes up that lofs with a redundancy of goodnefs. 

Now, let us glance at a few of thefe many great pro- 
mifes, that in all cafes and conditions we may take coin- 
fort. 

If we are troubled with fin in its upr'ifings in our 
hearts, and outbreaking* in our life, to us then the pro- 
mife fpeaks, " I will take away the hard and ftony 
heart : I am he that blotteth out your iniquities as a 
cloud, and your fins as a thick cloud : he will fubdue 
all our iniquities, and caft our fins into the depths of the 
fea, fo that in the day when IfraePs fins (hall be fought 
for, they mall not be found : Sin fhall not have domi- 
nion over you : I will heal their backflidings \ I will 
love them freely." — Again, with refpecl to temptation, 
hear the promife, " He will not furTer you to be tempt- 
ed above that ye are able to bear, but will with the 
temptation make a way to efcape." Moreover, this 
promife is made by him, who being once tempted him- 
felf, know T s how to fuccour them that are tempted. 
Alfo, if we fear left we fall into fin, or be overcome when 
we are buffeted, hear what he fays, " My grace is fuffi- 
cient for thee, for my ftrength is made perfect in weak- 
nefs : The juft (hall hold on his way ? and he that hatk 

B 2 clean 



26 TJIE TRAVELLER. 

clean hands fhall be ftronger and ftronger : The righ- 
teous fhali be like the palm tree in Lebanon, always 
flourifhing and bringing forth fruit, even in old age, 
when others fade."— If fuddenly attacked by the tongue 
of reproach, or accufed at the bar of iniquity, he pro- 
mifes, that in that hour it fhall be given how and what 
to fpeak, and therefore we mould take no anxious fore- 
thoughts in the matter. 

With his faints in all their afflictions, he is af- 
flicted, and his gracious promifes meafure breadth 
and length to all the trouble and diflrefs that can 
befal them. — If poor in fpirit, thofe he cheers, and 
contemns not his prifoners. A bruifed reed he will 
not break, nor quench the fmoaking flax j but deals 
very compaffionately with young converts, carries the 
lambs in his bofom. and gently leads them that are 
with young : He commands Peter to manifeit his love 
to him by feeding his fheep, his lambs : i\.nd fays to 
thcfe in the pangs of the new birth, " Shall I caufe to 
come to the birth, and not give ilrength to bring 
forth ?"— Again, if they are poor as to this world, he 
not only makes promifes to them himfelf, but impor- 
tunes others to do them good offices - ? and that he, 
jmay prevail with them, promifes to them, that he 
that coniiders the cafe of the poor, (hall not lie on a 
bed of languishing unccniidered, but have his bed made 
by God in his ficknefs. O poor man ! he puts thee 
and himfelf en one fide, by promiiing to repay, as 
lent to him, what is given to thee. Every where in 
the fcripture he initructs to us feed the hungry, refrefh 
the weary, cloathe the naked, receive the eutcafts : 
" Let mine outcafls dwell with thee, Moab \ be thou a 
covert to them :" To entertain the firsnger and the 

traveller 



THE TRA*£IXE£. 1*7 

traveller kindly, to do juftice to the oppreffed, to help 
the widow, and judge the caufe of the fatherlefs. — To 
the afflicted he promifes deliverance in the day o£ 
trouble : u Call upon me in the day of trouble, I will- 
deliver thee : I will be with thee in trouble to deliver 
thee : I will never fail thee nor forfake thee, till I have 
performed the promifed good." If expofed to calumny, 
fays the promise, " Thou (halt be hid from the fceurge 
of the tongue :" Or if reproached, " He mall bring forth 
thy judgement as the noon-day." 

Now, though the promifes fuit the faints in their va- 
rious (rations, yet, as the affiicled and needy ones have 
a double (hare of trouble and forrow, fo they have a 
double portion of the promifes. If they are expofed to 
ftorms and drought, he promifes to be an hiding-place 
from the florm, a covert from the temper!:, as the (ha- 
dow of a great rock in a weary lard, and as refrelhfu! 
rivers in a parched place. If they are reckoned as the 
refufe of the world, and the offscouring of ail things, 
he counterbalances this, by promifing them that he will 
honour them, fet them on high, and confefs their names 
before his Father, and his holy angels. But they may 
be in doubt how or where to walk, and* how to acl ; 
then, fays he, " I will lead the blind by a way they 
know not \ I will make crooked places- ftraight, and 
rough places plain ; thefe things will I do unto them, 
and not forfake them." And when they are fo nor*.* 
plulfed as not to know what hand to turn to in their 
doubts and did reft, he fays, M Sand ftill, and fee the fal- 
vation of the Lord*" Hence fays the pfalmift, and all 
faints may fay it after him f "Thou wilt guide me with 
thy counfel while 1 live." 

But death may invade their family, and leffen the 
B 3 numbes- 

t .. 



IS 



THE TRAVELLER. 



number of their relations. Then fays he, H I am lb* 
rei'urreclion and the life \ and the hour is coming, when 
all that are in their graves (hall hear the voice of the 
Son of man, and (hall come forth ;" Therefore forrow 
not for your dead as they that have no hope ; for they 
are blefied that die in the Lord, and it is better to be 
gone, and be with Jefus, than remain here. 

If they are fubject. to bodily infirmity, and bow- 
ed down by dileafe j then fays he, M I am the Lord 
that healeth thee y" and he often (hews hlmfelf merciful 
to fuch as fit in darknefs, and in the (hadow of death, 
being bound with cords of affliction, and fends his word 
-<md healeth them. But the difeafe may be fpiritua], 
End fo of a more piercing and pungent nature , yet fays 
he, " Twill refiore health to his mourners ;" He heal- 
eth the broken in heart, and bindeth up their wounds y 
and gives the cil of joy for mourning, and the garment 
of praife for the fpirit of heavinefs. — If their grief be 
on account of the decay of religion, or the afflicted 
iiate of Ziern, thefe prcmifes may yield them comfort, 
** That ihael (hall revive as the corn, grow as the lily, 
and call forth Ler roots as Lebanon \ that ChriiVs name 
ftiiall endure for ever, and a feed mall ferve him to all ge- 
nerations j and thai the gates of hell (hall never prevail 
sgainit his church, fince he is both the foundation and chief 
comer-itone, and will be with her to the end." But if 
their iorrow be about the fewnefs of them that feem to 
be faved, or that follow Chrift, then the word of com- 
fort is, li The ele&icn (hall obtain, whoever be blind- 
ed,'' fo that a great multitude of all nations, tongues, 
and languages, fnall com pofe the general afiembly and 
church of the firfl-bcrn.- — If they are under gloomy 
ihadows by divine hidings, yet then hear the promife > 



THE TRAVELLER. 1 9 

c At evening-time it fhall be light : Who among you 
that fear the Lord, walks in darknefs, and hath no 
light, let him trull in the name of the Lord, and ilay 
upon his God : To you that fear his name ihall the 
Sun of righteoufnefs arife with healing in his wings, and 
in the light of thy countenance ihall they walk on for 
ever." To which promifes the reiponfe of faith is 9 
" When I fit in darknefs, the Lord will be a light unto 
me, for he Ihall bring me forth to the light, and 1 ihall 
behold his righteouihefs." If they are difquieted through, 
trouble of mind, hear the kindly promife, " As one 
whom his mother comforteth, fo will I comfort you : 
Though thou hail been called as a woman forfaken., 
and grieved in fpirit, and as a wife of youth, when 
thou wail refufed, faith thy God, yet, after the few mo- 
ments of my difpleafure are paft, with ever la (ling kind- 
nefs will I gather thee : And, as the waters of Noah 
flvali never return to cover the earth, fo the covenant 
of my peace ihall never depart from thee; for though 
thou feem as one altogether aillicled with my waves* 
toiled with the tempefts of my indignation, till thou 
groan under the anguiih of a defer ted foul, yet the day- 
is at hand, when I will no more hide my face from you ' 7 
for though a woman may forget her fucking child, and 
have no compaflion on the fruit of her womb, yet I can 
rxver forget thee who art io dear to me." — Again, to 
thofe that are diitreffed for the diviilons of Reuben, the 
prcmife fpeaks, " The Watchmen mall fee eye to eye, 
when the Lord bringeth again Zion. There ihall be a 
day when the watchmen in mount Ephraim fhall cry, 
Arife ye, let us go up to Zion. Judah and Ifrael iliall 
be one ftick^in mine hand •, for there fnall be one Lord 
over all the earth, and his name one." And the laft prayer 

of 



HO TIIE TRAVELLER. 

of the divine fufferer, which runs thus, M That they alt 
may be one, as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, 
that they alfo may be one in us," fliall be anfwered in due 
time. 

To tho-fe who are called out to dangers, fays the 
promife, " Thou (halt tread on t 1 n€ lion, and adder - ? 
the young lion and dragon (halt thou trample under 
foot : When thou paffeft through the waters, I will 
be with thee, and through the rivers, they (hall not 
everrlow thee } when thou walked through the fire^ thou 
(halt not be burnt, neither Hi all the flame kindle upon 
thee : If ye drink any deadly thing, ye lhall not be 
hurt." Again, if calamities be national, even the time of 
Jacob's trouble, vet the promife is, " He (hall be laved 
out of it : This man (hall be our peace, when the 
Affyrian cometh into* our land, and treadeth in our bor- 
ders;, and, He will ordain peace for us, who makes peace.'* 
If enemies rife in war, then the promife is, that they 
(hall be found liars ; and though they be numerous, 
that one (hall chafe a thoufand, and two put ten thou- 
fand to fright ; for no- weapon formed againft Zion (hall 
profper. But if they mould be made prifoners, the pro- 
mife reaches that (ituation alfo : " Verily, I will caufe 
the enemy to entreat thee well in the time of evil, and 
in the time of afEiclion ;" which was made good to If- 
r.ael,. who were pitied by them that led them captive. 
Are they blind, dumb, deaf,.maimed, deformed, feeble, 
and periming ? Then the promife is, that the Son of 
God, whofe coming from heaven we look for, " (hall 
change our vile bodies, that they may be faihioned like 
unto his glorious body, according to the working where- 
by he is> able to fubdue even all things unto himfelf." 
To the barren he promifes to give in Iot houfe, and 
vdthin.his walls, a place and a name better than of fons 

anri 



THE TRAVELLER. 21 

and of daughters. To the flranger he promifes to 
be a ihield. But perhaps they are not cnly Grangers 
for a little time, but outcaiis for a long time ; then 
M the Lord gathereth the outcaiis of Ifrael, and will 
fay to the north, Give up, and to the fouth, Keep 
not back/' But they, perhaps, have been long ex- 
pecting the performance of the promife, and praying for 
feme bleffing that has net been bellowed \ well, but 
fays the promife, M The needy (hall not always be for- 
gotten, the expectation of the poor (hall not perifn for 
ever. He will fulfil the defire of them that fear him, 
he will hear their cry, and fave them." But they may 
be expofed to the cunning plots of defigning men \ true, 
fay the facred oracles, " The wicked plotteth againft 
the jutt, and gnaiheth upon him with his teeth \ but 
the Lord mall laugh at him" in way of deriiion, to fee 
him fo bent to undermine another, whefe more terrible 
doom is at hand, even a day coming that fhall pluck 
him cut root and branch, while the righteous (hall be 
an everlafting foundation. But one may be fatherlefs, 
and fuch is ready to fiiSer injury at every hand : But, 
fays the promife, "God is a Father to the fatherlefs, 
and the widow's Judge in his holy habitation r" And 
\o favs he, Ci Leave thy fatherlefs children/ ' — Ah I 
Lord, may the dying parent lay, I mud leave them : 
Well, but, lays God, " I will pr-eftrve them alive j n 
that is, provide for them, and bring them up like a 
kindly tutor, and what more couldfi thou do though 
flill with them ? Then, may the fympathifing ha (band 
lay, And what mall this thy handmaid do r " Let thy 
widow trnft in me," and ihe fhall net be afharned of her 
hope ; I wii^^e to her as the moft tender huihand. 

Again, the comforting word to fuch as are living 
among the ungodly, and chained to bad company, 

is 



22 THE TRAVELLER. 

is, " The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly 
out of temptation," as he did Lot in a like fitua- 
tion.-r-But their work allotted them may be arduous 
and difficult : then the promife is, " I will be with thy 
mouth ; thou (halt not be afraid of their faces, for I am 
with thee to deliver thee \ the tongue of the Hammerer 
fhall fpeak plainly, and the heart of the raih ihali under- 
Hand wifdom j I will dire£t their work in truth : And 
as his day is, fo {hall his ftrength be/' — But they may 
be folitary, their dearer! friends, and nearelt relations, 
being removed by death \ then, faith the promife, 
** God fetteth the folitary in families, and bringeth out 
thofe that are bound with chains." — But they may be 
troubled to think how they (hall hold on through the 
wide, the wafte, the howling wildernefs \ how they (hall 
make the fieep afcent to the hill of God $ then the 
promife is, " My prefence fhall go with thee, and I 
will give thee reit : Thou (halt hear a voice behind 
thee, faying, This is the way, walk ye in it, when ye 
turn to the right hand, and when ye turn to the left : 
They fhall mount up with wings as eagles, they fhall 
run and not be weary, they fhall walk and not faint r 
He that is feeble among them, at that day (hall be as 
David, and the houfe of David fhall be as God, as the 
angel of the Lord." — But they may have their daily 
difficulties how to fupport their needy families ; well, 
the promife alfo fpeaks to that condition : " They that 
fear the Lord mall not want any good thing : Behold 
the eye of the Lord is upon them that fear him, upon 
them that hope in his mercy, to deliver their foul from 
death, and keep them alive in famine : Bread fhall be 
given thee, and thy water (hall be fure^pTherefore, I 
fay, take no thought for your life w T hat ye fhall eat, 

neither 



THE TRAVELLER. 2$ 

neither for the body what ye (hall put on *, the life is more 
than meat, and the body is more than raiment \ confider 
the ravens, for they neither fow nor reap ; can ye be in 
a worfe condition ? Nor have they ftore or barn to lay 
up what they might fpare in the plenty of harveft, yet 
God feedeth them all the year round. How much 
better are ye than the fowls of heaven \ and think ye that 
ye (hall fare fo much worfe than they at the hand of 
your heavenly Father ? And as for cloathing, confider 
the lilies how they grow, they neither toil nor fpin, yet 
furpafs Solomon in all his glory. If God then fo cloathe 
the grafs of the field, which fo quickly perilhes away, 
how much more will he cloathe you, O ye of little 
faith I Why fearful about thefe things, when it is your 
Father's good pleafure, O little flock ! to give you the 
kingdom ? Think not anxioufiy on your own neceffi- 
ties, becaufe your heavenly Father knoweth that ye 
have need of thefe things. — But they may be diftreffed 
with daily afrliclions, and continued chaftifements ; well, 
the promife fpeaks a good word to difTipate that pain : 
" Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the Lord 
deiivereth him out of them all.' 1 — But perhaps old age 
advancing, with all its train of infirmities, may trouble 
them ; then the promife proclaims the divine protection : 
" Even to your old age I am he, and to your hoar hairs 
will I carry you. And thou (halt pafs into the land of 
glory in that beautiful maturity, as a fhock of corn 
cometh in, in his feafon." — But they may be under bon- 
dage through fear of death, and even tremble to take 
the dark ftep into the unfeen world ; then the promife 
fpeaks comfort in the veryl aft extremity : '* O death ! I 
will be th^^fcgue \ O grave ! 1 will be thy deftruc- 
tions ;" So that they may break cut into the fame rap- 
tures, 



24 THE TRAVELLER. 

tures, that faints viewing the lame change, fweetened 
by the fame promife, have done of old, " O death ! 
where is thy fling ? O grave ! where is thy vrclory ? 
This God is our God, and will be our guide even 
unto death : Yea, though I walk through the valley 
and fhadow of death, yet will I fear no evil, for thou 
srt with me , thy rod and thy ftaff they comfort me." 



MEDITATION IX. 

THE SACRED INSURANCE. 

Horndean, Aprils. 175S. 
Men that go to fea, confcious of their danger, often- 
times infure - y that fo, though their fhips mould be wreck- 
ed, their value may be fecured to them. I am alfo going 
to fea, and carry a cargo with me more precious than 
all the treafures of the Indies, even mine immortal foul, 
which is alfo in danger of pe riming upon the waters of 
mce zn&profanlty. How then (hall my all be fafe amidfl 
fo many dangers ; amidtf: the corruption of nature and 
the feeds of fin within, and bad example, bafe advice, 
bold attacks, and baneful mares without, while perhaps 
there is not one to counfel me aright, to ftrengthen my 
hand in God, and thereby comfort me ? BleiTed be the 
God of all confolation, that in this deplorable fituation I 
I need not defpond. The infurance-ofjice of heaven is willing 
to contracl with me on the moil: honourable, and mod 
advantageous terms for my foul \ and holds forth to me 
the ftedfaft promife of his faithfulnefs, "|A@t his grace 
{hall be fufficient for mc, becatife his ilrength is made 

per: eel 



THE TRAVELLER. 2 5 

perfect in weaknefs, and that he will not fuffer me to be 
tempted above meafure, but will with the temptation 
make a way to efcape." 

Then, Lord, my humble requefl is, That I may 
never fin againft thy love and -grace, nor caufe thee to 
hide thy countenance by my untender walk : — That fin 
may continue, whatever ihape it may put on, as ugly and 
abominable to me as ever I thought it, yea, the more fo 
the more I am entangled w 7 ith it; as 1 would more 
lothe the ferpent twifting round my legs, than crawling 
ten yards dill ant from me on the ground ; — That I may 
ever be grieved with the fins of others, and that, in ap- 
pearing againft fin, I may not fear the face of man ;— 
That the more all things would draw me from thee, I 
may draw the nearer to thee, and keep the clofer by 
thee : — That I may never be afhamed of religion, or of 
thee : — That I may remember the concerns of thy glo- 
ry as far as in me lies, and pray for the reviving of re- 
ligion, and profperity of Zion :« — That I may ftudy, 
fince I cannot have the ordinances of God in public, 
to enjoy the God of ordinances in private : — That I 
may never be call down for temporal misfortunes, but 
own the hand of God in all ; and, like the honey- bee, 
fuck fweetnefs to my foul, from that fame providence 
which affords rancour and difquiet to the uniubmiflive 
mind : — That in the midfl of all, I may bear my latter 
end in my mind, and never forget the world to come ; 
— That I may depend on nothing in myfelf 5 but be 
always ftrong in the grace and ftrength that is in Chrifr. 
Jefus : — That every Sabbath may be fweet to my foul, 
in fpite of all obfirucUon \ and that an opportunity may 
be afforde<kj| me, to read that word which I fhouid 
cfteem morwrva my neceffary food. O grant me my 

C requeft ! 



2b THE TRAVELLER. 

requeft ! for, as of old, thou didfl fuffer none to do thy 
chofen ones harm, yea, for the fake of thy prophets 
didfl reprove mighty kings, fo now, if I be amon? 
the number of thy people, thou canft, who haft the 
hearts of all men in thy hand, not only reftrain, but 
reprove the bold offender, and keep me fafe in the 
midft of danger 5 and, as a fign of my gratitude for 
thy great goodnefs, not a little, but all I am, have, or 
C2n do, fhall, all my lifetime, be devoted to the advance- 
ment of thy glory, and honour of thy name. 



MEDITATION X. 

ON PUMPING THE SHIP. 

S pith end, May 11. 1758. 
No imp can be fo well chaulked, but me will draw 
water, more or lefs, though where or how we fcarce 
can tell \ and though it is only by the afnftance of the 
Watery element we fail from more to ihore, yet, if too 
much water were let in on us, it would link us to the 
bottom of the mountains, and bury us amidft unfathom- 
able waves : Even fo, though a moderate portion of 
the good things of this life be highly ufeful to us through 
the various ft ages thereof, yet, when the cares of this 
life, carnal pleafures, and a defire after riches, break in 
on our fouls like mighty billows, we bid fair to be 
drowned in deftruction and perdition. Again, on fuch 
an ocean of waters, and when water alfo fwells within 
us, what a wonder that we are not loft ! So, in fuch a 
^orld of wickednefs, (witnefs the wretchej^jcund me), 

and 



the Traveller. -2* 

and when corruption fo fwells within, what a miracle 
of mercy that the foul is not loft for ever ! 
- Whatever way the water comes into the fhip, it can- 
not be fent out the fame way, but muft be pumped out 
with care and toil ; even fo, though death and lin 
came in by mere man, yet life and falvation muft be 
brought in by him who is both God and man in one. And 
as this bilge-water comes not from a lave of the forging 
waves, or breaking billows, but as it were fpfings up 
within the vcffel, and thus is both dangerous and difa- 
greeable ; juft fo, though we keep from fcandalous 
outbreaking*, yet, if we indulge ourfelves in fecret fins, 
we both defile and deftroy the inner man. The fafter 
the (hip makes water, the more we ply the pump ; fo 
the more that fin attacks, and is likely to prevail, the 
more I am to watch and pray againft it *, and prayer is 
the Chrillian's chain-pump, which muft be employed, 
elfe the foul woirid perifh. Laftly, As the mariner muft 
pump again and again, and never think his labour at 
an end, while his (hip is at fea, & I muft watch 
againft fin, keep myfelf from mine iniquity, attend 
well to the ft ate of my foul, and implore the inhabita- 
tion of the Divine Spirit, till my veffel arrive at the' har- 
bour of eternal reft. 



MEDITATION XL 

@N THE ANCHORS OF THE SHIP. 

Spithead, May 4. 1T5S. 

Men ugjouainted with navigation, would think 
that the cSBto which the anchors are appended were 

C 2 faftened 



28 THE TRAVELLER. 

faftened to fome part above deck ; but it is not fo ; they 
come from the very inmoft part of the fhip, and are as 
It were its bowels winding out. Even fo, faith, which 
is the anchor of the foul, is no external* form, or fu- 
perncial aft, but the very foul, in all her faculties, go- 
ing out and fattening on Chrift. 

S.nd, as it is enough to the fiiip that fhe rides fafe 
at her moorings, though her anchors are not expofed 
to every eye, but hid beneath an heap of waters, and 
only known by their effe£is, that fhe keeps by her na- 
tion, in fpite of winds and waves, of tides and ftorms : 
juft fo, it is enough that the anchor of the foul be fixed 
within the vail, though concealed from vulgar view \ it 
will be known by its fweet efxecls. The foul (hall abound 
in fruits of righteoufnefs, (hall find a fvveet tranquillity 
within, mall be liable like Mount Zion, while the wic- 
ked (hall be tolled like a rolling thing before the whirl- 
•wind. 

Sometimes a fhip may drive, when neither the 
anchor is weighed, nor the cable cut or flipt \ but then 
it is owing to the ancher lofing its hold \ but this is 
remedied by letting out cable, or dropping the an- 
chor anew : Juft fo, when the foul lofes its hold of 
Chrift, and heavenly things, it is no wonder that it 
be driven hither and thither, by ftorms and tempefts, 
among rocks and quick- fands } nor is there any other 
way of bringing the foul to reft and compofure, but by 
adling faith more ftrongly on Chrift, and cafting her an- 
chor anew within the vail. 

It would be ridiculous for the fhipmafter to hoift his 
fails before he weigh his anchors j but the Chriftian can 
never fteer fafely through the courfe o^^fe, but with 
his anchor fixed within the vail: the^P he is thus 

heavenly- 



THE TRAVELLER. 

heavenly-wife, he fliall weather every florin, and make. 

the haven, the long wuhed-fcr haven, at rail. 

Even the (hip at anchor is never altogether free from 
motion in the greater! calm, and, at fometimes will roll 
in fuch a manner as to make feme of the (hip's company 
£ck, and others believe that the anchor has loft its- 
hold, and that all is in danger ; Even fo, the faints, 
though fecured againft utter ruin, may have many 
changes, may be much toffed with adverfities, and va- 
rious arfticlions, and may have fears without, and £ght* 
ings within. 

But, how much wifer is the mariner in a dorm, than 
the children of wifdom themfelves ! The fiercer the 
tempeft, and the greater the danger, they caft out the 
more anchors. But the faints, in times of greateft 
trouble, inftead of a cling the flrongeft faith, are apt to 
cry out, ' Loft, and undone !' and fo cut their cables, 
and caft locfe their anchors ; and thus, and that always 
in a night of for row and anguifh, are toffed on the 
rougli fea of defpondency and doubt, for a time. Faith, 
however, has this advantage above all the cables ever 
made, and all the anchors ever fabricated, that it fecures 
in fpite of fierce ft florins, and keeps fafe in the midft of 
imminent dangers, relying more or left on him who can- 
not fail, even when providence contradicts the promife. 

Now, as no (hip goes to fea without her cables and 
anchors, though of no ufe till (he come agsin near the 
land -, fo I fhould do every thing in faith \ for without 
faith it is impofhble to pleafe God, or come to an an- 
chor in the harbour of glory. 

C 3 MEDI* 



3® THE TRAVELLER, 

MEDITATION XII. 

THE SAILS. 

Spithead, May 5. 175*. 

Anchors are fervants to us in the harbour, but are 
entirely ufelefs at fea, where another kind of tackling is 
abfolutely neceffary, to wit, the expanfive fails that 
fpread their friendly wings, and catch the favouring 
gales, to forward us in our intended voyage. 

Even fo, the fpiritual feamen mufl to their anchors 
of faith, add virtue \ and to virtue, knowledge \ and to 
knowledge, temperance \ and to temperance, patience \ 
and to patience, godlinefs \ and to godlinefs, brotherly- 
kindnefs ; and to brotherly-kindnefs, charity : Theie arc 
the fails that bid fair for a profperous voyage, and bring 
us daily nearer to the celeflial land. 

The Holy Spirit breathing on the public ordinances, 
and the more private duties of Chriftianity, is like a fair 
wind, and a briik gale on a full- fpread fail, which an- 
fwers the higheft expectation of the homeward-bound 
fhip. No fhi pro after could ever ex peel:, under his bare 
pole?, to make the de fired haven, though favoured h 
a very frefh gale. If he did not both unfurl and ft retch 
his fails in the be ft direction for the wind, he w T ould 
look more like a madman than a mariner. So he that 
attends on no ordinances, attempts the performance of 
no duty, reads not the fcriptures of truth, and prays 
not to the God of all grace, is not in the way of the 
heavenly gale that wafts the faints to glory. 

Again, the fails, fore and aft, may all be unfurled, 
by a fkilful hand, and fpread out to thc^^id, and yet 

the 



THE TRAVELLER, 3 I 

the (hip for a time make little way, becaufe fcarcely 
favoured with a breath of wind. So the influences of 
the Spirit may be retrained for a time, and the faints, 
even in the uie of every mean, may make but little pro- 
grefs in their Chriitian courfe. But as the experienced 
feaman, in fuch a cafe, crowds on all 'his iails, adds a 
top-gallant fail, and appends fludding- fails ; fo we, with 
the Ipoufe, mould roufe up ourielves, rife from our 
iloth, afk anxioufly after him, be earner! and importu- 
nate in every duty, till we find him whom our foul 
loveth. 

Nothing can be a more pleafant fight at fea than a 
fleet of ihips, richly laden, wirh a moderate gale, fleer- 
ing a ltraight courfe to the port, at which they have 
long been expelled, and which they have long defiied 
to fee. But, a company of laints travelling Zion- 
wards, rich in heavenly graces, and the hopes of eter- 
nal glory ; and, under the influences of the Holy 
Ghoit, fleering a ftraight courfe to the churcji of the 
£rPi-«x>rn, where they have been long expected by the 
fouls under the altar, and which they have long defired 
to lee, is a more noble fight. 

Finally, as the fliip never takes in her fails till arrived 
at her defired haven, fo we mould be always on our 
guard, keep every grace in vigour, never be weary in 
well- doing, but preis toward the mark for the prize of 
the high calling of God in Chriil Jefus, till we make 
the haven of blifs, the harbour of glory. 



MEDI- 



gZ THE TRAVELLER, 

MEDITATION XIII. 

ON TKE COMPASS AND HELM. 

Spithead, May 6. 1758. 

Anchors and fails are both ufeful j but without fome-- 
thing more the mariner mud fleer an unfleady courfe, 
and traverfe the ocean to little purpofe, not knowing 
where he is, ncr whither he goes. Thefe handmaids 
of navigation are, the compafs, the quadrant, and the 
helm. Without the compafs, he durft never venture 
from the coafi, becaufe he would fail he knows not 
whither ; without the quadrant, he muft miftake his 
latitude \ and without his helm, he might be driven 
whither he would not. Even fo, all thefe in a fpiritual 
fenfe are abfolutely neceifary to every one who would 
have a fafe paffage to the other world. Therefore, fee- 
ing I am on a long, but interefling voyage to eternity, 
much care mould be taken what courfe I fteer, fince 
one point wrong, fo to fpeak, inftead of landing me 
fafe in glory, will run me among the rocks of irretrieve- 
able ruin. Did not they feem to bid fair for a profperous 
voyage, and for making the very harbour, who could boait 
to Chriil himfelf, " Lord, Lord, have we not prophe- 
cied in thy name, and in thy name call out devils, and 
done many wonderful works r" and yet he profeffes to 
them that he never knew them. 

Now, I rnufl direcT: the courfe of my life, and the 
end of my aclions, by the facred compafs of divine re- 
velation. This (hould be a lamp to my feet, and a light 
to my path 3 my counfellor in all difficulties, and my 

fong 



TEE TRAVELLER. 33 

fong in the houfe of my pilgrimage j yea, my daily and 
delicious fcoJ. 

Here I mud obferve, that if the mofi: fkilful pilot 
cannot, without the compafs, fail from England to the 
Indies > fo the heathen, for all the blaze of natural 
parts, for all their refined manners, or excellent morals, 
yet, wanting the word of God, the Volume of infpira- 
tion, can never reach the more of happinefs \ for " how 
(hall they believe in him of whom they have not heard ? 
and how (hall they hear without a preacher ? and how 
fhsll they preach except they be fent ?" 

Again, like the fpiritual mariner, I fhould take my alti- 
tude, and fee what length I have run, what progrefs I have 
made in my courfc heavenward. Now. this is known by 
the height of the Sun of righteoufnefs in my jky. If he 
enlighten the whole inner man, fhine into my heart, ir- 
radiate every power of mind, cover me with his healing 
beams, fill my raviihed eye, engage my attention, and 
excite me daily to adore and balk beneath my Saviour's 
gracious rays, furely I am well on to the meridian, well 
on to the land of reft. 

Again, I fhould fleer the helm by the compafs of di- 
vine truth, guard againft running out of my latitude, 
but be attentive to my life according to thy word, and 
have a zeal according to knowledge. Thus mall I at 
lad, under a full fail, in a triumphant manner, have an 
abundant entrance miniftered to me into the kingdom 
of my Lord and Saviour Jefus Chrift. 



MEDI. 



34 THE TRAVELLER. 

MEDITATION XIY. 

PROVISIONS AND STORES. 

The (Lip mafl not only be well fupplied with every 
thing neceffary for navigation, but with food for the fea- 
rnen on their voyage. If they have not laid in both 
bread and water, they (hall foon be in a frarving condi- 
tion, reduced to eat one another, cr die, and never fee 
the country for which they fet out. Juft fo, if we do 
not live on a crucified Jefus, if he be not the food of 
our fouls, and in us the hope of glory , if we cannot 
make a fpiritual meal, a fpirifcual feafl on the promifes, 
we (hall be confumed of famine, and perilh in our paf- 
fage. 

Again, as this day's allowance will not fupport us to- 
morrow, fo it is not by grace received that we muft 
purfue our Chriflian journey \ for we muft be ftrong on- 
ly in the grace that is in Chrift Jefus, and daily receive 
Gut of his fulnefs. 

Further, the provmon which w T e carry to fea muft be 
prepared in another manner than what is ufed at land, 
etherwife it will corrupt, and become altogether ufelefs. 
Even fo, a form of godlinefs, and counterfeit graces, a 
cradle-faith, and a family-piety, will not fupport us in 
our paifage to the world of fpirits. 

Befides, in a fcarcity of proviiions, the vermin, rats to 
wit, will attempt to gnaw the flefh of the poor failors. 
Even fo, when grace is languid or with- held, what lulls 
prey on the vitals of the foul ! O, then, for a full meal 



THE TRAVELLER. 35 

an the bread of life, that I may be fafe from fin and 
Satan, earth and hell ! 

Our provifions, when long at fea, are apt to breed 
maggots, worms, and infects ; yet, if wholefome when, 
put aboard, will fupport us till we accomplish our 
voyage. So, it is no wonder though, amidii fo many 
fnares, fo many temptations, and in fuch a variety of 
circumilances and occurrences, the graces neceffary to 
the Chriitian life, be more or lefs languid at times, and 
fometimes appear fo much difpofed to putrefaction, that 
fpiritual death is dreaded to be at hand \ but, if true 
grace be firft implanted, the Chriitian fhall not perifh 
by the way, but have the bread and water of life be- 
llowed upon him, till he come to the banquet above. 

Moreover, if a fupply of provifions, fuitable to the 
length of the voyage, or of the time defigned to be at 
fea, is neglected, a fcarcity will enfue, that will ruin 
the (hip. So, how fad to fail through life, with no- 
thing but vanity and wind to feed on ! The foul muft 
flarve all his life-long, and die at lafl of fpiritual famine, 
the moil terrible of all deaths. A fhip, indeed, inert 
of provifions, may meet another at fea, and obtain a li- 
beral fupply , but this is not the cafe with a gracelefi 
foul ; no other can help, none can fpare of his own 
fiores to fupply others. 

No private perfon, yea, nothing lefs than majeity, 
could afford fo many perfons as are in the navy this 
ample provifion. So, neither from faints nor angels is 
the poor iinner to expect: righteoufnefs or grace } all are 
beggars or bankrupts themfelves, and fo can give no 
ranfom for their brother's foul. But how rich the King 
eaven 1 that gives both grace and glory to his an- 
gels 



36 THE TRAVELLER* 

gels and faints, and yet remains an overflowing ocean 
of goodnefs i 

In a long voyage, it may be fometimes necefTary to 
put the whole (hip's company on fhort allowance, but 
death never follows this. So, the faints, in their way 
heavenward, may find themfelves for a time deprived of 
public ordinances, w r hich mould nouriih the foul, (it is 
our fin, without urgent caufes, to deprive ourfelves of 
them), yea, may find the communications of grace 
more fparingly bellowed, or, to their fenfe. for a feafon 
with-held * y but flill grace in the foul, and the foul it- 
felf, fhall by faith be kept alive, till they land in glo- 
ry, where they (hall feaft on the plenitude of all divine 
goodnefs. 

Again, w T e muft not only have the (hip thoroughly 
equipped, but we mull have fpare anchors, fpare fails, 
and fpare mails ; elfein a ftorm, when we may be driven 
from our anchors, or at fea, when our fails may be 
blown to pieces, and our malls brought by the board, we 
muft remain at the mercy of wind and wave, and periih 
in our diitrefs, So, it is proper that every Chriftian lay 
up in his mind the promifes, the word on which God 
has caufed him to hope ; that in the day of darknefs and 
temper!, when like to fink in the mighty waves, he 
may have recourfe to them, as holding forth an un- 
changeable love, and call to mind his pafl. experience of 
divine goodnefs ; like the pfalmifr, " I will remember 
thee from the land of Jordan, and of the Hermonites, 
from the hill Mizar." Thus (hall he weather out 
the ftorm, and have a fafe oafiage to the land of pro- 
mife. 

MEDI- 



TIJE TRAVELLED. 3? 



MEDITATION XV. 

BALLAST. 

Spithead, May 8. 1753„ 
Notwithstanding of all this nice apparatus, and 
royal provifion made for the veilel deiigned for foreign 
climes, there is one thing abfolutely neceflary for her 
fafety in the main ocean, among roaring winds, and 
that is, a due weight of ballait. To fee fuch a quanti- 
ty of gravel, fand, flones, pegs of iron, &c. thrown 
into the (hip's hold, would make an ignorant perion apt 
to conclude, that it rnuft fink the (hip, and not conduce 
to her fafety \ but, if fhe were not funk to a proper 
depth, (he would buoy up on the furface of the water, 
and be overfet by every gale that blows. Juft fa, a 
preffure of afrlidtion is abfolutely neceflary for the faint 
in his paffage heavenward. If every thing went profpe- 
roufly on, fpiritual pride might buoy up the foul, and 
^xpofe her to be overfet by every wind of temptation $ 
and fuch winds the people of God may expect below. 
Indeed, there are caufes, manifold caufes of humility- 
cleaving to the beft ; but, before God fuffer his faints 
to be exalted above meafure, even through the matii- 
feftation of the divine favour, he will let loofe the mef- 
fenger of Satan to buffet them, as he dealt with Paul of 

As the (hip fails more fafely thus ballafted, though it 
h*s a greater depth of water to cut through 5 fo it is 
'fafer for the foul to be kept in a due poife of humility 
and lowlinefs of mind, than to float en the furface, and 
catch every gale. 

& Again; 



3§ THE TRAVELLER. 

Again, it may be neceffary fometimes to fhift the 
ballad fore or aft, as the (hip goes more or lefs upright, 
to alter her pofition. Even fo, according to our necef- 
fity, our afflictions may be removed from one thing, and 
laid upon another that is dear to us. We may fuffer in 
our eflate, or good name ' y trouble, difeafe, or death, 
may be laid on our children, or the wife of our bofom 5 
and we may be afflicted in our bodies, or in our minds, 
as Infinite Wifdom fees meet } which fhould filence us 
under all. 

Again, the food that we eat, and the w r ater that we 
drink, is part of the ballad, and keeps us deep in the 
water. Jufl fo, our bell comforts, at lealt what we 
thought bed, are often made bitter with fome crofs. 
Thus, have not fome hufbands (harp forrow from her 
that lieth in their bofom > Have not fome parents much 
vexation from thofe whom they have fwaddled, and 
brought up ? Therefore, to expecl: little from the crea- 
ture, and all from God, is the way never to be diiap- 
pointed, but always at reft. 

Finally, here is the crowning comfort, that, as the 
ballad is turned out, w-hen the fhip goes into dock, fo, 
when I arrive at my much-defired haven, affliclion mail 
no more have place in me \ then (hall I obtain joy and 
gladnefs, and forrow and fighing fhall- for ever flee 
away. 



MED1- 



THE TRAVELLER. 35 



MEDITATIONXVI . 

THE MORE WE SEE OF SIN, THE MORE WE SHOULD 
HATE SIN. 

When Ifrael was in their own land, they were mad 
on idolatry \ but, when forced to facrirlce at Babylon 
to idols which they knew not, they got fuch a forfeit 
of that fin, that. they loathed it ever after. How, then, 
ftiould I henceforth hate fin, when I fee how naked it 
makes the foul, how it debafes even unto hell, how the 
longer the captive lies in chains, the fetters grow Wrong- 
er, and the captive weaker \ how it kindles hell, fcat- 
ters brimftone over the tabernacle, makes the language 
of the pit fpue from the tongue, and makes retilefs in 
the piyrfuit of fin \ in a word, contemns divine things, 
proclaims rebellion againft Heaven, and wages war 
a gain it God ! 



MEDITATION XVII. 

KNOWING A SIN TO BE COMMITTED. 

Sfiitbaad, May 15. 1758. 
In vain, O foolifn man ! in vain thou hideft.thyfelf, 
for M there is no darknefs nor uVadow of de?.th where 
the workers of iniquity may hide themielves." Haft 
thou chofen the gloom of night ? Well, but night is to 
God as day* and darknefs as the light. Thou didft 
D 2 premeditate 



4^ TH? TRAVELLER. 

premeditate the perpetration of thy wickednefs, and 
God is preparing the punifnment of thy crimes. 

Lord ! thy judgements are a great deep, and thy jut 
lice mall (bine in the punifhment of finners, who (hall 
confefs the equity of thy burning indignation. Thus, 
they who unweariedly blafpheme in paftime and in fport, 
fhall eternally blafpheme in agony and pain. Thus, 
the unclean wretch, who burns in impure defires, and 
fatisfles his lulls in an unlawful way, (hall be delivered to 
the flames, where the worm dieth not, and the fire is not 
quenched. He who will not hearken to God's reproof, 
in the time of his long-fuffering$ fhall hear when venge- 
ance (hall be his garment, and his fury fhall uphold him. 
Thus, the companions of fin (hall be the companions of 
fuffering, being bound in bundles to be burnt together. 
Thus, the adulterers, who know no fhame, (hall be 
athamed, and covered with confufion in that day. And 
iuch as now expofe their wickednefs to fome, with im- 
punity, ihall be expofed before the great congregation, 
and (hall not be able to iiold up their face before the 
fpotlefs throne* 

Then thou, O flnner ! fhalt be there, and I mall be 
there. Here I know thy fin, and, if mercy prevent 
not now r , there I ihall fee thy punifhment. How fhalt 
thou wifh this day, this night, out of the number of the 
days of thy years, and not added to thy months ! How 
wilt thou with darknefs to cover it, and a cloud of ob- 
livion to dwell upon it ! How wilt thou curfe it, when 
jready to raife up thine everlafling mourning ! When 
thou waft a child, thou couldft not commit this wicked- 
nefs, and when thou art a man, thou fhouldft not ; there- 
fore, how fhalt thou curfe thy manhood, and bewail 
thy riper yeara ; yea, wifh that thou hadft been an un- 
timely 



THE TRAVELLER. 41 

timely birth, an infant that never faw the fun ! Thy fin 
is marked in my mournful meditation, in thy confcience 
which is at work fecretly, and in the omnifcience of thy 
tremendous Judge. There will be no want of proof againft 
thee in the day of thy caufe *, the companion of thy wic- 
kednefs (hail be prefent, I (hall be prefent, confcience fnall 
be prefent, when thou appeared before thy judge, who, 
being every where prefent, is the greateft witneis of all. 
There will be no. calling of witneiies there j for no falfe 
witnefs can appear at that tribunal, yea, thou thyfelf ihalt 
never -pre fume to plead not guilty* AsTure as thou hail com- 
mitted this fin, (hall theie events take place ! And yet, 
O man ! thou art merry in the midft of all thy mifery, 
and obferveft not the impending thunders that are about 
to break on thy devoted head. Sin is that poiion that 
makes a man go laughing to death, and dancing to de~ 
ftruc~tion. Then, let my foul weep in fecret places for 
thole that cannot pity themfclves, nor fhew companion 
on their own fouls, but live in a dream, die in darknefs, 
and plunge into defpair. 



MEDITATION XVIIL 

A MAN OF WAR. 

May 16. 1758* 
There is a great difference between a trading-fmp 
and a man "of war. The one goes out for private £ain, 
the other for the public good. That neither intends to at- 
tack, nor is prepared to refill:, if attacked in her voy- 
age > but this kneads the fails, and fweeps the fea, to 
£>3 find 



42 THB TRAVELLER* 

find and fight the foe y and, therefore, carries along with 
her weapons of every kind, and inftruments of death. 

Even ib, the Chriltian has another courfe of life to 
lead than the worldling, even while fojourning in the 
world. And, as the fhip of war rauft not traffic from 
port to port, having more noble things in view, life and 
liberty to defend, and enemies to fubdue y fo- r " no man 
that waneth entangleth himfelf with the affairs of this 
life, that he may pieaie him who hath chofen hiiato be 
a foldier." 

We are never out of danger, while at fea \ for, though 
it be a time of peace, we may be overtaken with a tem- 
per!, \vrecked on a rock, or lit down on a fand-bank : 
But, in thefe difquieted times, we may be fhattered by 
an engagement, funk by the foe, or blown up by acci- 
dent y or, mould we efcape all thefe, we may have a 
mutiny within. Juft fo 9 whatever be the fituation 01 
the fons of men, Hill the children of grace have a war 
to maintain ; not only a fea full of ftorms to ilruggle 
through, but a field of foes to fight through. It i& 
through fire and water, through fevere trials, and heavy 
affiiclions, that all fpiritual champions have to force 
their way. Satan knows well how to aft y when faith 
would look to the bright fide of every event, Satan* 
turns up the black fide, to drive the foul to defpair £ 
and, on the other hand, when grace looks to the black- 
nefs of fin r he turns up the beautiful fide of pleafure* 
In adverfity, 1 am ready to dafh againft the rocks of 
difcontent y *nd, in profperity, to fall among the quick- 
fands of worldly cares and temporal concerns. We 
Iiave foes on every hand to fight, temptations, from 
every quarter to refill, all the powers of darknefs, all 
the principalities of the pit 5 to combat wkh y nor is peace 



THE TRAVELLER* 4$ 

to be expe&ed while an enemy is on the field ; neither 
muft we lay afide our armour, the weapons of our war* 
fare, till we lay down the body of death. 

Again, though for a time we have no foe to affright 
us, no tempeft to trouble us, no rock to endanger us,, 
yet a mutiny may rife within, than which nothing can 
be more terrible } and it is always the dregs of the 
crew that are chierly concerned in it, while the officers 
are fure either to be cut off r or confined. Juft fo, there 
may be a tumult raifed in the foul, a war in the very 
mind, when rafcally corruptions, headed by unbelief^ 
claim the command \ when graces, #Wtb, love, patience, 
resignation, fpirituality, &c. are wounded, and put un- 
der confinement : Thus, one complained of old, " I fee 
another law in my members, warring againft the law of 
my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of 
fin, which is in my members." Now, as no icene can 
be more melancholy than a mutiny, till it be fuppreffed, 
and order reflored 7 fo nothing can be more melancholy 
than a foul luffering all the calamities of a war within, 
corruption rampant, and grace bleeding. 

Eut, how happy is the fbip, when peace is reftored* 
and the mutineers fecured in irons, and what a ftridl 
eye is kept on them during the voyage ! So it b with 
the foul - y what joy, what exultation and triumph, pre- 
vail, when fin is fubdued, and the love of God, and 
peace of confcience, are (bed abroad in the heart by the 
Holy Ghorl ! 

This is known, that when the mutineers get the a- 
fcendant, and compel I he reft of the fhip's company to 
join them, they turn pirates, are refclute in battle, 
bloody in their conqueits, defperate in all attacks, a 
tenor to, and hated of every nation. Even fo, he that 

fen 



*44 YHE TRAVELLER.. 

Tets out with a fair profeiTion of religion, and on the 
way to heaven, but turns a black apoftate, fpues out 
malice again!! the ways of God, becomes the bitterett 
of all enemies, the mo ft profligate of all offenders, and 
is hated of faint and finner. 

When a mutiny takes place, it is fometimes requifite 
for the fafety of the ihip, and for the honour of govern- 
ment, to cut off fome otherwife very ufeful hands. Tuft 
(o, we are to cut oft lufts, though dear as cur right 
eye, or ufeful as our right hand, that we perifh not for 
ever. 

Again, our being provided with what enables us to 
defend ourfelves, and to diilrefs our foes> has fometimes 
been the ruin of fhips, while the fatal fpark makes a 
terrible explofion, tears the vefTel to pieces, and fcat- 
ters the lifelefs crew on the deep. So the beft of bleff- 
ings, the choice!! privileges, when not improved, entail 
the bittereft of curfes. Thus Judas, who fat in his di- 
vine Matter's prefence, heard his fermons, and witneffed 
his miracles, not improving thefe golden opportunities, 
turned traitor, and hanged himfelf, in the anguifh of 
defpair. And Capernaum, that in privileges was ex- 
alted to heaven, is threatened to be thruft. down to 
hell. 

When war is over, peace proclaimed, (hips on foreign 
ttation called home, prize-money received, (hips paid 
off, and laid up, and the crews difcharged, and fet at 
liberty * ? how is all mirth and jocundity, feftivity and 
joy 1 Eut, what tongue can tell" the tranfports, the 
joy, the rapture, and delight, which the Chriftian (hall 
feel when his warfare is finifhed, and he tranflated to 
the manfions of glory, to the prefence of God ! 

Some poor creatures. >who 3 though weary of the w#, 

vet 



? TPAVELLER, 4$ 

yet not knowing iupport themfelves, or where 

to go after discharged from the ftiip, would be content 
to continue ftill in the fervice. And this minds me of 
fome faints, who, not being free of doubts with refpect 
to their ftate in a future world, notwithstanding of all 
their toils in life, and ftruggles againrt fin, cling to life, 
and ftartle at the thoughts of death. 

But, there are fome provident perfons who have fa~ 
ved a little in the courfe of the war ; and fome fo hap- 
py as to get on the half-pay lift, or obtain a peniion 
from their prince : Thefe chearfully retire to live oil 
their money, repeat their dangers, recount their con- 
quers, and commend their king. Juil fo, the fouls 
that are enriched by the King eternal, and bleffed with 
the full affurance of celeftial felicity, go triumphant, at 
the hour of death, to dwell in the courts of God, ok 
jthe treafures of glory, through an endlefs evermore, 



MEDITATION XIX. 

THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE RIGHTEOUS AND 
THE GUILTY, 

Lying off Normandy, j'une 14. 1758, 
Thovgh, with refpeft to the outward man, there is 
no difference, as one Creator has fa&icned them both 
alike in the womb \ yet, with refpeft to the inner man, 
there is an amazing difTnniiitude, In the darkeft night, 
there are fome rays of light j but, in thefe ions cf vice, 
there is not the leaft veftige of holinefs. Yea, that 
mpdefty, which one would think was infeparable from 

the 



46 THE TRAVELLER, 

the human nature, they have eradicated by a long prac- 
tice of finning. They feem to have ftabbed their con- 
science, bound it hand and foot, and carried it forth to 
be buried, like a dead corpfe, in the deep-dug grave of 
oblivion, from whence it mall come forth upon them 
In a terrible refurreclion. 

What a wide difference, then, between the mining 
examples of piety, and the fons of profanity! The af- 
fections of the one are refined, and their defires exalt- 
ed \ but the inclinations of the other are corrupt,, and 
their defires grovelling. Sin has but a tottering {land- 
ing, and a momentary ftay in thofe \ but has fixed 
his throne, and taken up his eternal refidence, (if grace 
prevent not), in thefe. In the one, grace and fin flruggle 
for fovereignty * y in the other, fin domineers, and there 
is no diMurbance. The one is wife for a world to come, 
the other minds not that there is a future (late. The 
difcourfe of the one is always feafoned with fait \ of the 
other, infipid and vain. The one has his hope fixed in 
God, the other has no fear of God before his eyes. 
Thofe ufe the world without abufing it \ but thefe, in 
ufing the world, abufe both themfe-lves and it. ^ The 
one confeffes a God in bis daily converfation, and re- 
joices with his whole heart in him ; the other fays in 
his practice, there is, and wi(hes in- his heart, there 
were, no God. ~Xhe one adores the Creator above all, 
the o|her w T or(liips the creature more than the Creator, 
though he be God over all, blefTed for ever. The one 
names the name of God, with profoundeft reverence, 
and departs from iniquity •, the other profanes it with 
impudent loquacity, and adds iniquity to fin. The one 
redeems common time, and fanclifies that which is fa- 
cred ; the other trifles away the one. and fins away tnl 

other, 



THE TRAVELLER. 47 

other. The one fiudies his duty in obedience to all, 
the other (hakes himfelf loofe of every law. This for- 
gives his foes, that lays a fnare for his friends. The 
one commits it to God to plead his caufe, and avenge 
his wrong *, the other, fiery and tumultuous, threatens 
duels and death. The one loveth chai'tity in all things, 
the other wallows in uncleannefs. The one injures him- 
felf rather than his neighbour *, the other, the whole 
world rather than himfelf. The one is content with 
his condition, the other covets all the day long.- The 
one is all glorious within, the heart of the other is like 
a cage full of unclean birds. The one walkc at liberty 
in the ways of God, the other is the fervant and Have 
of fin. In this, dwells the Spirit of God \ in that, rules 
the god of this world. The one has his converfation in 
heaven \ the other, in hell. 

But, as there is a wide difference in their principles 
and practice, fo in their privileges. The one is under 
the bleffing of love, the other under the curfe of the 
law. The one is a child of adoption, the other the 
prey of the terrible one. He is faithful that hath pfo- 
mifed felicity to the faints, and threatened vengeance 
to the wicked. The one is allowed with joy to draw 
water out of the wells of falvation, the other mall drink 
of the wrath of the Almighty. To the one pertain all 
the exceeding great and precious promifes, to the other 
all the threatenings of God. " The righteous hath hope 
in his death, but the wicked is driven away in his wic= 
kednefs." The one mail enter into the joy of his Lord, 
but the anguiih of his enemies fhall prey on the other 
for ever. Heaven fhall be the palace of thofe, hell 
the prifon of thefe ; And, while the one fhall dwell 

% through 



4$ THE TRAVELLER. 

througH eternity with God, the other (hall be driven 
away into everlafting darknefs. 

Thus, the righteous and wicked are feparated in 
their life, and divided in their death •, divided in their 
principles and practices, in their choice and joys, in 
their meditations and privileges, in their company, and 
In their converfe, in their fears, and in their expecta- 
tions, in their death, and through eternity itfelf. 

Then, how much more excellent than his neighbour 
is the righteous ! and how are the fons of Zion compa- 
rable to fine gold I As only among them, of all the hu- 
man race, I can expect to fpend eternity, fo only among 
them, to fpend the remainder of my time, in every tie 
and relation j is all the happinefs of fociety that I defire 
below* 



MEDITATION XX. 

fJTC JUDGEMENT OF SWEARERS, ACCORDING TO 
EQUITY. 

Lying off Normandy f 'June 15. 1758. 
How juftly will God, the* righteous Judge, meafurfc 
^the purport of their imprecations into the bofoms of thefe 
blafphemers ! They fwear by God^ and fo they own 
the divinity they offend •, but, they profane the facred 
name, and fo offend the Deity they own. They damn 
the whole man, their foul, their blood, their eyes $ 
and every part, even the whole man, (hall be torment- 
ed. They fow the wind, for there is neither pleafure 

fior 



THE TRAVELLER. 4? 

nor profit in any feme in fwearing ; and they (hall- 
reap the whirlwind, whofe truth is difappointment, and 
pain. They £n in fport, but God hears in earned, 
and will puniih in zeal. They call on God profanely* 
at every word, and God hears, and will anfvver them 
in wrath. They fwear, and forget, but God has fworn 
that he will remember. That wliich they think adds 
beauty to their fpeech, and vigour to their words, (hall 
indeed add anguiih to their grief, and ftrength to their 
torments. They are not weary in blafpheming, f© as to 
ceafe from it, therefore they mall be weary in bewailing 
themfelves, but never ceafe. They chufe to blafpheme. 
through the whole of their time, and anguiih fnall caufe 
them blafpheme through a whole eternity. They defpife 
the day of God^s patience, but (hall not efcape the day ov 
his judgement. What mall the blafpbemer fay, when 
toiling on the fiery billows, fnri eking under consummate 
defpair. i O miferable flare of intolerable torment?, 
which I mult endure ! How mall I fpend this eternity 
of pain ! It was nothing to me in time to hear others 
cune and blafpheme, and to join in the infernal diaiec~b 
myfelf \ and now I am encircled with unceaiing fclaf- 
phemies, from all the legions of fallen angels, from all 
the millions of miferable finners, fuiFering under infi- 
nite vengeance ; and I mingle in the uproar, and join 
in the terrible tumult sgaiftft the throne of God, al- 
though dreadfully tortured in my rebellion. Thetu 
curfes accented every fentence : notv, every fentence is 
one continued curfe, I thought God was altogether 
•fuch an one as myfelf, and that he would never remem- 
ber my oaths, which I never minced, nor call me to 
account for committing what I made no account of. 
Damn me. damn me, was always on my tongue, and J 
«ai damned for ever ! The oaths and curies which I 
£ fowed 



$0 THE TRAVELLER. 

fowed in time, are now fprung up into bitter bewail- 
ings, and eternal blaiphemings. As I took pleafure in 
curling, fo it is come unto me, but with inexpreffible 
pain. O eternity, eternity, how long !' 

This is, indeed, the laft, but lamentable end of pro- 
fane fwearers, who (hall confefs the equity of God in 
their torments \ nor let the petty fwearer think that he 
fhall efcape with impunity, fince the fupreme Judge has 
faid, that whatfoever is more than yea, or nay, is evil. 

Butj as the wicked fhall be anfwered in their ways, 
fo (hall the righteous be in theirs. All their imperfect 
attainments, longings, wreftlings, hopes, deiires, pray- 
ers, meditations, tears, godly forrows, fpiritual joys, 
and the feeds of every other grace, fhall come to a com- 
fortable conclufion at laft. Now they ferve God with 
weaknefs, but then they fhall enjoy him with a vigorous 
immortality. They fow in tears, and go weeping hea- 
venward, but fhall poffefs him in a triumphant ftate ? 
where forrow and fighing fhall for ever flee away. 



MEDITATION XXL 

THINKING ON A DEAD FRIEND. 

Spithead, May 10. 175S. 

A melancholy gloom had well nigh fpread its mid- 
night (hades over my brooding mind, when thinking on 
a dead friend, whom I reprefented to myfelf as no more \ 
but, all on a fudden, a facred fentence beamed "refrefh- 
ful on my foul, " That all live unto God." 

Let me then borrow a fimilitude, and fuppofe that my 
friends and I live under the government of a great 
king, who has vaft dominions, and who has chofen for 

his 



THE TRAVELLER. $t 

his royal refidence, a pleafant, but remote province, where 
his palace iiands, and where he keeps court, (hewing 
him felt in kingly glory, and excellent majefty, while 
w r e live, compared to the royal country, in a howling 
wildernefs, a dry and thirfty land, but Hill under the 
fceptre and protection of the King. And farther, let 
me fuppofe, that this great King (which would be ftu- 
pendous condefceniion in him) had conceived fbch a re- 
gard for my friends, that he bad given his royal word, 
that he would fend a noble guard, fo foon as he thought 
fit, and fetch them home to hhnfelf, that he might be- 
flow on every one of them, not a dukedom, but a king- 
dom, a crown, and excellent majefty. Now, would I 
ilorm at the guard, cr murmur at their errand ? Yen, 
would not I rather give the meffengers an hearty wel- 
come, and blefs their auguft fovereign •, and the more fo, 
if I had the royal promife alfo of being myfelf tranfported 
thither > 

Then, is there any promife like his, whole cottrvfel 
(lands fad, and whofe faithfulnefs cannot fail ? Is there 
any guard like that of heavenly angels ? Or any happi- 
nefs like the celeftial felicity ? And, if thefe things be 
fo, is not the ftate of the dead happy beyond concep- 
tion that die in Jefus •? Now, the glory of my depart* 
ed friend, infinitely tranfcends the blaze of created 
grandeur. Mortality is put off, and immortality put 
on ; their houfe is net of this building, and fo not of 
this frame, nor on this foundation, but eternal in the 
heavens. 

Upon the above fuppofition, my> friend, and his kingly 
patron, might fall out, as nothing is more fickle than, 
royal favour : but here, there is no fear of his falling 
from the favour of the Prince of life, becaufe he refts 

E 2 in 



$% THE TRAVELLER., 

in his love for ever, which kindles gratitude and love m 
the faints through endlei's day. In fuch a place, and 
in fudi a condition, would I not with all my friends ? 
Here we live to die, bat there they live to reign ! Though 
to human nature a little regulated forrow may be al- 
lowed, yet, that boundlefs glory, and eternal blifs, 
which, to the higheft degree, my departed friend enjoys ? 
forbid me to bewail him to any great degree, or lament 
him as loft, who is found of God, or as dead, who 
•never could be faid till now to live. Why mould my 
fad rerleclions terminate on his crumbling clay, and not 
rather rife to meditate how his active foul is inceffantly 
employed in the hofannahs of the higher houfe, and un- 
weariedly exercifed in beholding and bleffing Jehovah 
and the Lamb ? and thus convert my penfive thoughts 
into a Chriftian preparation for the fame bleffed paffag§ 
to the fame bleffed place. 



MEDITATION XXII. 

THE UNION BETWEEN CHRIST AND BELIEVERS* 

Spithead, May 14. 1753. 
There is an union between Chiiit and believers, that 
every metaphor falls fhert of. No relation fo near as he : 
The friend may prove falfe,the brother betray the brother, 
parents call off the relation, and huiband and wife be 
faparated. Three Ilrong figures hold forth this union, 
that of the tree an<t his branches, the head and his 
members, and eatirg the flefh, and drinking the blood 
^f the Son of God, Now, what we eat and drink mixes 

with 



THE TRAVELLER. 53 

with the mafs of blood, and is fo Intimately aflimilatcd 
with the fluids, that no power can feparate it again , fo, 
when by faith I receive the Son of God, and eat his 
fieili, and drink his blood, my foul partakes of the di- 
vine nature, till every power is holy, every affeftior* 
heavenly, and till the life of Chrift is made manifeil in 
my body. 

After this union, the foul and Chriil cannot be rc- 
parated j death may fend the foul out of the body, but 
cannot fend Chriil; out of the foul : And hereupon fol- 
lows a commonnefs of intereft. Chriil renews the mil, 
ianciifies the affections, enlightens the understanding, 
and claims the whole foul for his temple 5 yea more 9 
he Ihowers down his mercies, numbers his crcffcs, weighs 
his afflictions, wherewith he himfelf is alfo afflicled, and 
bears his forrows. And ail of Chriil is the foul's ; his righ- 
teoufnefs, his love, his joy, his pardon, his mercy, kind* 
nefs, and compafTion j his protection, direction, and 
conduct 5 his favour, his power, and fympatby, his lighf* 
and glory, his crown, and throne, his felicity, and his 
eternity and life. Thus the foul lives in Chriil, and 
he in the foul. Their life is divinely interwoven 3 " you 
in me, and I in you." Hence, becaufe he lives, they 
ihall live alfo. Hufband and wife muft lofe their rela- 
tion by death \ the branches may be cut off from the 
root, and the head, that fympathifes with all, may lofe 
fome of its members : but he that is joined to the Lord 
is one fpirit, and a fpirit can never be divided. 

This myilerious union is blifs begun on earth, and 
heavenly felicity tailed below 7 , and (hall be the eternal 
admiration of angels, the envy of devils and damned 
{pints, and the wonder of the higher houfe. 

E 3 UEDL 



|4 THE TRAVELLER, 

MEDITATION XXIIL 

IMPERFECT ATTAINMENTS. 

How pitiful are our higher! attainments in this imper- 
fect ftate I But, O how beautiful is it for the child of 
grace to grow daily in grace, and in the knowledge of 
God ! to rife ilep by Hep, till at length complete in 
Him who is the pattern of perfection I Let it be my 
continual ftrnggle, then, that my grace, like the mining 
light, may fhine more and more tiil the per feci: day of 
glory. 1 can never get fo near to God, but there ftill 
remains, asd through eternity will remain, a distance, 
to be deftroyed by approaching yet more near. Mine 
attainments can never be fo high, but there remains 
fomething attainable, which I have not yet attained, 
" Not as though I had already attained, either were 
already perfect, but I follow after, if I may apprehend 
that for which alio I am apprehended of Chrifl Jefus." 
If this was the confeffion of the g?eat apoftle, what mtfft 
I fay, who am but juft fetting my head through the: 
fhadows of the night, and peeping into the dawning 
of divine things ? 

Hence let me prefs vigorouily towards perfection, 
and not be contented with one beam of his glory, fee- 
ing he is willing to reveal it -all. Let me daily be 
drawing more near to him, tiil, Enoch- like, I walk 
with God, and have my converfation in heaven. Let 
me daily fit at wifdom's door, and Hand' at the gate 
of paradife, that, imce as yet I cannot enter in, I may 
fend in my faith to view the fields, the land of my Be* 
JU>ved, and returning, bring me the fubftance of the 

excellencies 



THE TRAVELLER. 55 

excellencies hoped for, the evidence of the glorioui 
things not feen. Let me walk in the mount of God ? 
with him whofe form is like the Son of God. Let the 
defire of my foul be to thy name, and the remembrance 
of thee. Let an uninterrupted communication be bro- 
ken up between the fountain of life and my foul, that I 
may be^r no more the reproach of barrennefs. And iroirt 
that river of life that fprings from the throne of God> 
and of the Lamb, let me daily drink, that I may third: 
no more after the vanities of time. Let me live quite 
above the world, above its pleafures, and above its 
pains, difdain its flatteries, and defpife its frowns. Let 
grace grow from one degree unto another, till, at laft, 
O deiirable perfection ! it grow to glory. Let me hold 
thee, and not let thee go, till thou blefs me, in perfect- 
ing my attainments, and crowning my happinefs with 
the full fruition, unclouded vuion, and uninterrupted 
communion with Jehovah, and the Lamb, for ever- 
more. 



MEDITATION XXIV. 

on king's allowance* 

May 19. I74& 
It is furpriflng, that goverument allows the leail boj" 
the fame kind and quantity of proviiions that any man 
or any officer a- board can claim $ yet, it is no more than 
may be expected from royal generofity, fince they, in 
their capacity, fupport the fame ca-ufe, undergo the 
fame haidfhips, rufh into the fame dangers,, and expofe 

thek 



5® THE TRAVELLER.' 



their lives, though young and tender, at the command- 
ment, and for the honour of the King. 

Even fo, every child of grace that is born into the fa- 
mily of God,- has the fame ample right to all the hea- 
venly blefiings. No fooner is he a fon, than he is an 
heir of all the fulnefs of the covenant. The young con- 
vert is allowed, by the King eternal, to plead the per- 
formance of all the promifes, and to claim all the privi- 
leges that the aged faint can do. 

Again, as nothing can be more pleafant, than to fee 
early youth walking in the ways of holinefs } fo, often 
to fuch have bright man! fed at ions of love, and large 
communications of grace, been given. And the love of 
eipoufals, and the kindnefs of youth, is 2 melting, a 
long-remembered kindnefs. Have not fome children 
gone off the ftage, with fuch a gale of glory on their 
fpirits, that aged faints have been at once aftonifhed and 
ailiamed ? 

Have not feme youths, who have fuffered martyrdom 
for the name of Jefus, been fo affifted with grace, that 
they defpifed reproach, and fmiled in the face of danger, 
—been fo refreshed with foretaftes of glory, that they 
could contemn torment, and mount the Icaffold with 
the fame joy as if they had been going up the rounds of 
Jacob's ladder ? And, have not fome firiplings on a 
death-bed had fuch a double portion of communion, 
that they could look on diffolution with delight, forbid 
their friends to pray for their recovery, and could meet 
their fatal moments with the fame alacrity as a young 
prince going to the grand felenmity of his own corona- 
tion ? 

MEDt 



THE TRAVELLER, $$ 

MEDITATION XXV. 

ON THE BLOWING UP OF A SHIP, 

Many are the appearances which death puts on, and 
in every one of them he is terrible. Sometimes his com- 
million bears him to lay fiege to the clay-walls for a 
long time, and to watie them away with a lingering 
confumption ; and then he {teals on them fo infenfibly, 
that they ftill entertain hopes of recovery, and believe 
themfelves better a day or two before death. At one 
time he comes in flames of fire, at another time in fwell- 
ing floods j and at another time, by a fudden ftroke, he- 
f weeps the man at once off the ftage. 

Though lire is terrible any where, yet much more fo 
when the burning pile is furrounded by a boundlefs fca. 
It is, no doubt, a moving fight, to fee a naked family^ 
with wringing hands, and weeping eyes, deplore theii* 
all in flames ! A family, juft alarmed out of their mid- 
night fleep, by the doleful cries of affrighted fpedators, 
with no more than time to efcape the burning blaze I 
However, by the affiftance of water-engines, and a 
thoufand friendly hands, the fire is got under, and half 
the houfe is iaved 5 or, mould all be con Rimed, thej" 
are Hill happy in the poffeffion of life, and the charity 
of well-difpofed Chriilians. Eut the fcene alters at fea, 
and is much more difmal, as the fhip I fpeak of felt* 
Strong and well equipped^ the glory of the fleer^ 
fhe fpread the pompous fails, impended by the lofty 
mails, divided the rolling billows with the nimble keel* 
was rich in men and officers, and waved the honora- 
ry 



58 THE TRAVELLER. 

ry flag from the higheft top \ but, all at once, while n# 
danger is dreamed of, and at noon, a fire bewrays itfelf 
below, too far advanced to be got under, too terrible 
to be beheld without trembling. It kindles fear in 
every breaft, and nothing can be done. Signals of dif- 
trefs are fired, but only a poor merchantman comes to 
her afliftance \ yet dares not come too near, for fear of 
finking by the wreck. The fire rages Hill, and it is 
flrange, in the midft. of water, to perifli by fire. Were 
the oceans a plain, with what chearfulnefs would they 
come down, and fee the laft plank in flames ! But, 
death, gaping from the hollow waves, forbids them to 
defcend, and every moment they expect to be blown 
into the air, and ftrewed in mangled legs and arms along 
the briny deep. What confufed couniels ! what feeble 
hands ! what fainting hearts ! what ftruggling thoughts ! 
what flaring eyes ! what fcreams and cries ! The (hip's 
fides are lined with expectants of deliverance. They 
look every way, but in vain, for relief. One boat 
only appears, which dares not come along-fide \ yet 
many take the defperate leap, and falling fhort of the 
boat, plunge into the lea, and are feen no more, a ter- 
rifying fight to all behind ! Still the fire increafes-, 
till anon the guns, loaded for aclion, fweep the crowded 
fides of the fuip, of thefe very men they were defigned to 
defend. Death is in the waters, death is in the fires \ it 
purfues behind, attacks before, and hedges in on every 
fide ! Old and young, who had iurvived the day of 
battle, are, in this melancholy manner, and on fo inert 
a warning, hurried into another world. The flames 
grow more furious, and on all fides lifelefs bodies float 
around, a fad fight to furviving friends ! Her own 
boats carry off a few men, but find not the way back 



THE TRAVELLER. 59 

again. At length, the mails break down, deflroying 
numbers as they fall, and officers die undiftinguifhed in 
the throng •,. while the admiral, ftript of his uniform, 
hanging by an oar, ftruggles for life on the liquid wave, 
till taken up. Many attempt to fave themfelves on 
pieces of the wreck, while the remains of the fnip fink 
out of fight \ but the angry waves wafh them off their 
lafl relief, and they peri(h in the deep waters. Yet, 
mercy (bines in the midfl of (hipwreck and death, for 
many efcape with their life, though deprived of every 
thing elfe *. 

O ! ftrange to tell, will we quit with all that we 
have, for a few cays, or a few years of our natural life, 
and yet quit with nothing at all for eternal life and 
endlefs glory I And, if fire that can be extinguifhed 
with water, or burn away to lifelefs afhes, be fo terrible, 
what mud the fire of infinite wrath be, that mall burn 
up the wicked for ever ? Finally, ilnce my fitaation is 
the fame, may I (ludy to prepare for death at any time, 
and in any fhape * ? then I (hall face the flames, yea, fall 
into them, knowing, that my immortal foul, from thefe 
calcining fires, more fragrant than the fpices of the eaft, 
fhall rife a celeftial phoenix, to live the many thoufands 
of eternity, and never, never die. 



MEDI- 



* The (hip alluded to. was Admiral Broderick'*, whicfe 
bkw up in the Straits of Gibralter, 



60 SHE TRAVELLER* 



MEDITATION X 

SOME SLAIN BY MERCi": LS BY 

JXJD GEM E1S 

Spkhead May 22. Vt58. 
Grace, and grace alone, can coo«|uex the heart of 
man; for, have I not feen one, who bad all manner of 
misfortunes in his family, fubitance, relations, character, 
and perfon j his family carried off by (trange deaths, 
liis iuhftance reduced to nothing, his pomp blown away 
like a cloud of fmoke^ his friends falling into grievous 
calamities, his character fuffering by every tongue, the 
heavens revealing his iniquity, and the earth riling up 
againft him, and his body long the dwelling-place of 
loathfome difeafe, till death has fent his [linking carcafe 
to the rotting'grave \ and yet the man remains a llnner to 
the laft ? Alfo, have I not feen the foldier, and the 
faiior, who in the day of battle had loll a leg, an arm, 
an eye, a piece of the fcull, and fome of their fenfes, 
have been made prifoners of war, and worn out with 
long confinement, and cruel ufage, and yet thefe meft 
remain proof again!! every judgement j incorrigible, 
though often corrected ; ftubborn under the flrokes of 
heaven, inattentive to the language of the rod, and da- 
ringly brave an angry God ? On the other hand, have I 
not feen a man, who had a flouriihing family, growing 
up to maturity, like trees by a wall ; bathing in plea- 
fures, held in common eileem, feeing his children's 
children, riches, with little induftry, pouring in en him 
from every quarter, him'felf, though full of days, and 

covered 



THE TRAVELLER. 6 I 

covered with hoar hairs, yet poffe fling the vigour of 
youth, and his bones lull of marrow, and yet this very- 
man walk in a itated contradiction to the Author of 
all his bleflings ? Have I not alfo feen the man, who, 
when expofed on the thundering fields of war, or in the 
more terrible fea-engagement, has yet flood fafe ami 
furrounding dangers, and received not a fingle wound, 
while ibme were lofing limbs, or falling down dead on 
every hand ; or when perhaps the imp funk, or a tire kin- 
dled in her bowels, that consumes the miferable crew, 
yet efcaped the flames, furvives the wreck, and lives 
to tell the ! g {lory of his deliverance in the 

field, or on the flood : One would think that fuch a 
man would be melted down into gratitude, and live to 
his glory, who had been his help in the day of dilcreis, 
and had covered hi: head in the cay of war ; yet he 
walks in a Rated oppoiition to the Moil High, and 
boldly offends the God of all his mercies. Thus we 
fee cue that is difappointed in every undertaking, crufii- 
ed at every hand, yet remain impenitent under judge- 
ments ; and we fee another that fucceeds in every with, 
fwims in created blifs, and walks in the clear noon of 
prosperity, yet remain obdurate under love, and charge- 
able with an ingratitude towards Heaven, that would be 
accurfed among men. To be flain by mercies, or by 
judgement?, is a terrible death ) it is the death of the 
uncircumciied in heart. When they are not impro- 
ved, they give fury to the falling dorm, and make the 
thunderbolts of wrath break with dreadful vengeance 
on their guilty heads through an endlefs evermore ! O ! 
then, to be corrected in love, and to have my heart 
bettered by the fadnefs of my countenance ; and, en 

F the 



62 THE TRAVELLER. 

the other hand, to have bleflings with a ble fling, and all 
my mercies fweetly drawing my foul out to God. 



MEDITATION XXVII. 

ON A FINE FLEET. 

Spithead, May 23. 175S. 

What means this fplendid fleet, this expenfive navy r 
No doubt, to deal deftruclion to our foes, and ride tri- 
umphant over the fea. Had the world been peopled in 
fome parts from the planets, we fhould not wonder much 
to fee fierce contefts between the old inhabitants and 
the new. But the matter is not fo, for we have all one 
father, and are all of one blood. Not very many ages 
ago, the contending monarchs lay in one loins, and flcpt 
in one womb \ and all mankind are brethren. Whence 
are empires filled with anarchy, kingdoms with rebel- 
lion, families with terror and tears, while the brother 
butchers the brother, the fon the father, the hufband 
the wife, and the perfon that is driven into defpair, 
rifes in rebellion againft his own life ? It is becaule we 
are all in a ftate of rebellion againft God. What a 
ihame is it for men to maffacre one another, or depopu- 
late whole nations, for a few furlongs of earth, which, 
in a few years hence, their eyes (ball fee in flames \ an 
agonifing fight to their ambition ! 

We think much of nation riling againft nation, but, 
fince Adam turned rebel, the whole univerfe is up in 
arms againft Heaven, a few humble fupplicants in all 
ages excepted, who. having made peace through the 

King": 



THE TRAVELLER. 63 

Ling's Son, are again received into favour •, but what 
are they to the many millions that are under the com- 
mand of the god of this world, the fpirtt that now 
worketh in the children of diibbedience ! What pity to 
fee at this ftandard the fbvereign and the fwain, the 
flatefman and the general, the foldier and the huiband- 
man, the merchant and the mariner, the mailer and the 
fen-ant ; yea, and women who, in ether wars, tarry at 
home ! Moreover, befides this general infurreclion a- 
gainft Heaven, there is a war in the breaft of all belie- 
vers, feme of the old principles of rebellion rifing up 
againfl the laws of their rightful Lord and King : " A 
law in our members warring again ft the law of our mind, 
and bringing us into captivity to the law T of fin f how- 
ever, grace fhall at laft prevail. 

This is the army of Gog and Magog, which covers 
the face of the whole earth, and makes war with the 
Lamb ; whom the Lamb fhall overcome, for he is Lord 
of lords, and King of kings. There is a day of {laughter 
coming, when the fword of his juftice (hall be drunken 
with the blood of his enemies j when thofe who would 
not have him to reign over them in the fpirituality of 
his government, (hall be flain before his face, and cad 
into the lake of fire and brimfione, which is the fecond 
death. 

Would the princes of the earth fubmit to the Prince 
cf peace, foon ihould they beat their fvvords into plough- 
fhares, and their fp'ears into pruning-hooks, and every 
man fit under his vine, and under his fig-tree. Were 
they more careful to extend the Chriftian religion, than 
to extend their conqueft and commerce, more to grow in 
grace than in riches., and to improve more for eternity 
than time, how would our world be Hephzllah^ and our 
F 2 earth 



64 THE TRAVELLED. 

earth Benlah) and the general contention between 
crowned heads and their fubje&s, through every land, 
be, who could live mofl like angels, and love moft like 
feraphim ! 



MEDITATION XXVIIfc 

GETTING SAIL. 

Seot fail r thou venturous rover, and let thy daring 
keel cut the dividing billow, and plow the briny deep* 
But whither art thou bound ? To cruize on a tempef- 
tuous ocean, or dafh again ft inhofpitable meres. Well, 
iny foul, remember that* thou alfo haft fet fail, and art 
rapidly carried down the ftream of time, to the ocean 
©f eternity. I fhould confider under what latitude, 
and to what point I am fleering y if under the latitude 
of the new birth, and a lively faith, I {hall at la ft drop 
anchor at the haven of blifs \ but if under the latitude 
of a natural ftate and unbelief, I (hall be driven, by di- 
vine indignation, on the rocks of everlafting ruin, and 
teffed a deplorable wreck on the Hoods of wrath. 

How ignorant is the heathen world of a future ftate ! 
But; fince the Son of God is come, and has taught us all 
the myfteries of the fpi ritual navigation, we launch at once 
into the depth of ages, and, in our exalted views, lea- 
ving land on every fide, we lock not at the things which 
are feen, but at the things which are not feen 5 for the 
things which are feen are temporal, but the things 
which are not feen are eternal. 

Why fhould- I. fear,, or be difmayed 5 for fhall I not 

have 



THE TRAVELLER. $$ 

have a profperous voyage, and a pleafant landing, iince 

Chriil is both my pilot and my pole ? fmce his Spirit is 
promifed to lead and riiide me into all truth j fince the 
fcriptures are my compafs, a light to my feet, and a 
lamp to my path ; iince hope is my anchor, call within 
the vail ; faith my telefcope, that gives me views of the 
world to come } felf- examination my founding-line, 
to know what depth of water I am in, to try myielf, 
whether I be in the faith or not ; and my log-book a 
Chriftian diary, that I may tell them that fear God what 
he hath done for my foul ; and fincc all the heavenly gra- 
ces are like the extended fails, one fail being unfurled af- 
ter another, firft faith, which is to the foul as the main- 
fail to a (hip, and adding to faith virtue \ and to virtue, 
knowledge > and to knowledge, temperance \ and to 
temperance, patience j and to patience, godlinefs \ and 
to godlinefs, brotherly-kindnefs ; and to brotherly- kind- 
nefs, charity. Were I once in fiich a happy irate, my 
next petition would be, " Awake, O north wind ! and 
blow, thou fouth )" fill my extended canvafs, and carry 
me to glory. 



MEDITATION XXIX. 

TIME TO BE REDEEMED. 

S pithead, May 24. 1753. 

Now I learn that time is precious, though mif-fpenf, 

though defpifed. I begin to fet an higher value on 

that which is ever valuable, than I was wont to do , 

but, ah ! I begin to refolve when golden opportunities 

T 3 are 



m 



THE TRAVELLER. 



a 



are gaft, and loft for ever ! God has been kind in giving 
me time, which I have not been cautious in fpending, in 
improving 5 but, alas ! blanks are not the worft, for I 
have not only trifled away, flept away, but finned aw T ay, 
time. And,. O ! what great things are to be done in 
this little inch of time. God will have none of his 
lervants idle \ we mud trade with his talents here, and 
the profit iliall be ours hereafter. We muii work out 
ur own ialvation wiih fear and trembling, encouraged by 
this, that Geo. works all our works in us. Thus, to ipeak, 
not like the proud legaiiit, but like the laborious Cbri- 
itian, we mull fcale the walls of heaven, (for holy vio- 
lence is allowed), and take it by force. We muii combat 
principalities and powers, and crucify the rleih, with the 
afFcclions and lufls-. I mult ft and upon my watch, keep 
a (harp look-out on ail my fees, on the leaft fin, cut 
off hours which 1 have too often fpent in ((hall I call 
it) finful deep, and guard againft trifling amufements, 
and luperrlucus viiits j not that viuts and recreations are 
limply iinful, but the excefs therein. I muft carefully 
attend to my time as it panes, for with grief I fee that 
I cannot rec-al time when pafh I have much work 
on my hand *, I have to bear witnefs to the excellency of 
religion, and againft linners ; my backfiidings to bewail, 
my failings to amend, my converfation daily to infpecr r 
my accounts to fettle for the day of judgement. (O to 
be found in Jefus in that day !), my treafure to lay up 
in heaven, my affeclions to fet on things above, my iins 
to mortify, my graces to itrengthen, death to prepare 
for, eternity to improve for, my falvation to fecure, God 
to live to, and the Lord Jefus daily to put on. Now, 
fay if fuch an one has reafon to be idle, or to trifle time 



a\vay ? 



JV1EDI- 



THE TRAVELLER. 



MEDITATION XXX. 

IN VIEW OF AN ENGAGEMENT. 

May 24. 175S- 
A few days hence, and we (hall be contending with 
the foe •, death will fallen his cold hands on many of us, 
and numbers ihail be dropping into an unknown, an aw- 
ful, an endleis eterniry ! 

Though this is an event that will certainly take place, 
yet we are all tboaghtlefs and fecure, merry and uncon- 
cerned, as if it were of no moment to change ftates, 
and enter into an invisible world. Aik. us all, one by 
one, if we are afraid we (hall die in battle ? and all of 
us to a man have the fond hopes that we (hall efcape 
without a wound. But it would look better, if each of 
us were laying, ' Perhaps it may be I, perhaps it may be 
I, that mall be (lain. 1 Though my Ration be not fo dan- 
gerous as that of fome, yet, in my fituation, fome now 
and then are killed, and I rejoice that when I am in dan- 
ger, I dare not trail the fides of the fhip for my defence, 
but thy divine protection, which is better to me than a 
thou fan d bulwarks. Let me neither build on falfe hopes 
of life, nor be filled with fia villi fears of death, but be 
prepared for all events. In the mean time, I plead 
that our fleets may be defended, our foes defeated, an 
honourable peace concluded, and an end put to the ef- 
fuiion of human blood. And I alfo plead, that thou 
wilt put a covering on my head in the day of battle, 
that 1 may praife thy power, and fing aloud of thy 
mercy in the morning. 

MEDI- 



68 THE TRAVELLER. 



MEDITATION XXXI. 

ON OUR LORD'S DISPLAYING HIS DIVINITY ON 
THE SEA. 

S "pithead 9 May 26. 1758. 

Till now, I never obferved that our Lord, in the 
days of his neih, performed cures, and wrought mira- 
cles on the fea. At one time, from the furrounding. 
multitude he Reps into a (hip, and teaches thoufands at- 
tentive on the more \ and, after finiihing his fermon, 
makes the unfuccefsful fiihers cait their nets again in- 
to the fea, who, catching a great draught of fifties, are 
alfo caught themfelves, and made rimers of men. 

Another time, he will go over to the country of the 
Gadarenes, for there was one there, the prey of the 
terrible, and captive of the ftrong, whom he is pleafed to 
deliver. So he enters into a (hip, and his difciples, the 
clofe attendants on their Mailer, go along with him j but, 
while his human mature, fatigued with the toils he daily 
underwent, is fa ft afleep, a tempeft came down on the 
(hip, either fent by Providence, that, in rebuking it, he 
might difplay his divinity, or perhaps Satan, who is the 
prince of the power of the air, was permitted to fend out 
the fierce!! ftorm which his hellifh rage could effectuate, 
to make the affrighted boatmen row back again, and pre- 
vent the happy paffage. However it was, his terrified dif- 
ciples awoke him, and his word makes the fierce winds 
fall afleep, and his prefence in a little makes, fiercer 
fiends cry out, when turned out of their long poffeflion. 
O how pleafant to think, that he who came from hea- 
ven 



THE TRAVELLER. 0$ 

ven to earth to fave finners, gees over a lake to fave a 
foul or two *, and though he comes in love unfent for # 
yet he goes not away, till deiired to depart ! 

Again, our great Lord, aft or feeding the multitude 
witb fpiritual and earthly bread, cendrains his difciples, 
who, it feems, were loth to move a foot without his 
prefence, to go into a fhip, while he fent the multitude 
away •, after which he retires unto a mountain to pray ^ 
but, by this time, they are teffed with a double tem- 
ped, one beating their fhip without, and another di£- 
quieting their foul within. It appears they had en* 
tered the fhip between fix and nine in the afternoon, 
and were toffed on the waters till between three and fix 
in the morning, a long time indeed to the trembling 
difciples. The fcene is altered new, for before they 
had no more to do but awake their Lord, to make the 
temped fall aileep 3 but, though they faw not their 
dear Mailer, yet he faw their didrefs ; and, after letting 
it heighten to an extremity, to fweeten their deliver- 
ance, he comes a-fcot upon the flood, and journeys 
flraight to their veffel. The difciples (no doubt, 
in the morning-watch, looking out for land) faw 
him, and, fuppofing it had been a fpirit commiflicn- 
ed to overfet them altogether, it added fo much an- 
guith to their anxiety, and terror to their trouble, 
that they cried cut. But iaow foon does his kind 
reply check their tears, // is /, he not afraid. Peter, 
afier afking liberty, comes dow T n to welcome him on 
the watery element *, but winds above, and waves be» 
neath, make Peter's faith dagger fo much, that our 
kind Lord mud dretch forth his hand and fave him, 
No fooner did he enter the (hip, than nature is compo- 
fed j nor needs he fpeak a word, his very prefence calms 
the temped ? znd the winds immediately forbear to blow 

upon 



7© THE TRAVELLER. 

upon the barge, where their Creator is a parTenger. 
How happy, then, the foul where he abides for ever ! 
This fudden change in the dorm effected a no lefs iud- 
den, but much more momentous change in the minds of 
the aitoniihed fpeclators, who are all at once brought 
over to a belief of his divinity : " Of a truth thou art 
the Son of God." 

How often might the obferving mariner fay of him 
who did ride through the fea with his horfes, through 
the heaps of great waters > that he hath his way in the 
whirlwind and in the florm, and the clouds are the duft 
of his feet ! How often fends he out the florm that puts 
us to our wit's end, and again calms the dreadful hurri- 
cane, to our great comfort ! M O that men would 
praife the Lord for his goodnefs, and for his wonderful 
works to the children of men !" 



MEDITATION XXXIL 

A MEMORANDUM FOR HIM THAT GOES ABROAD, 

June 2S. 1757. 
Sometimes the call of Providence, fometimes a cove- 
tous heart to amafs riches, carry men abroad. If a man 
cannot exercife his religion with liberty in his native 
country, which he can find in another land, then he 
may be faid, in Mead of going abroad, only to go home. 
But, on the contrary, he that wanders from the place 
where God delights to dwell, and relinquishes Zion, 
which God has called his reft, may indeed be laid to go 
abroad j and unlefs his reafons are valid, when impar- 
tially 



THE TRAVELLER, ^l 

tially weighed, he ought not to go. On no account 
fhouidlt thou go with a defign to remain, unlefs the go- 
fpel gladden the diftant region *, but when thou art a- 
way, remember a few things, that thou mayeft not forget 
thyfelf. 

1. Be always under the impreffion of God's crnni- 
pre fence and omnifcience. Thou canil never wander out 
of the hollow 7 of his hand, or Iwim beyond his ken. 

2. Mind the terrible tribunal, where the complete 
regifter of all thine actions (hall be brought forth j fuch 
and fuch a fin at home, fuch and fuch a fin abroad, with 
fuch and fuch aggravations. 

3. Know, it is better to Hand alone, than fall with 
many. It will not excufe thy wickednefs, that thou waft 
among the wicked, for finners mail be bound in bundles, 
that they may burn the fiercer. 

4. Think much on death, that thou mayefl not be 
too much charmed with the vanities of life. 

5. Oppofe fin in others with courage, for the righ- 
teous mould be bold as a lion 3 though the wicked flees 
when none purfues. 

6. Remember the deceitfulnefs and uncertainty of 
riches \ fo (halt thou neither be puffed up with the pof- 
feflion, nor pained at the lofs of them. 

7. Be not jeered out of thy religion, or flouted cut 
of thy devotion *, better be the cbjecl of man's ridi- 
cule, than the fubjecl of God's wrath. 

8. Set not thy heart on any intended acquifition a- 
broad, and fo thou ihalt not return home difappoint- 
ed. 

9. Remark providences, and thou (halt never want 
them to remark. 

ic. Let Zion and the people of God have a place in 

thy 



72 THE TRAVELLER. 

thy prayers, and thou (halt again have a place in Zion 
among the people of God. 

1 1 . Since thou canft not have God in his public ordi- 
nances, feek the God of ordinances in private daily ; and, 
when deprived of the preached word, eiteem and perufe 
the written word the more. 

1 2. Be not hafiy in making acquaintance, nor ra(h 
in chufing thy friends. 

13. Meditate often j a fecret good rifes from this fe* 
cret exercife. 

14. Examine thy condition often ; it is the fign of a 
bankrupt never to open his books, nor look into his ac* 
counts. 

15. Let prayer be thy daily pleafure and employ, 
To be much in the prefence of an earthly king makes ia 
courtier j but the prefence of the King of kings mnkes 
a Chriftian, an angel. 

16. Think much on the unfeen world, and let the 
certainty of that which is to come, difpel the deluiion 
of the prefent, which paffeth away. 

17. As thou may eft never again fee thy native coun- 
try, and thy father's houfe, let heaven be thy native 
country, and then death mall bring thee to thy better 
home. 

18. Eye God's glory in all, and prefer the approba- 
tion of God and thine own confcience, to the appiaufe 
of men. 

19. Double thy diligence. Satan will double his 
temptations, fins and fnares will multiply around thee 1 
therefore multiply thy cries to God, keep in thy firong- 
hold, and aft faith on him at all times* 

20. Remember that the Sabbath is alike holy in all 
latitudes, and mould be fancied with the fame iince- 

rity 



THE TRAVELLED. f$ 

rity in Britain and Japan : for, though Chriftendcm for 
a while may be abfented, Chriftianity is never to be 
abandoned. 

21. Beware that thou live not to thyfelf, the world, 
or for time } but live above the world, for eternity, and 
to God. 



MEDITATION XXXIII. 

HOW THE SABBATH, OR LORD'S DAY, IS TO BE 
SANCTIFIED. 

Spithead, July 15. 175S. 
While my fituation is in a place where the Sabbath 
feems to be forgot, what can be mere proper than to 
afk myfelf, How the Sabbath is to be fanctified r Then, 
the Sabbath is to be fanctified by all men, in all places, 
throughout the whole world, and during the whole day j 
— -\s to be fanctified by breaking off from fins, abrtaining 
from pleafures at other times allowed, and laying afide 
callings on other days lawful ; — is to be kept holy, out- 
wardly, by the man, and his actions j inwardly, by the 
mind, and its thoughts : But we may be employed in 
works of neceftity and mercy, by defending ourfelves 
and others, our cattle and fubftance, from fire and wa- 
ter, from wild beads and mad dogs j by feeding the 
poor, comforting the afflicted, and {hewing mercy to 
all in diilrefs. But, on the ether hand, this cay is pro- 
faned by men of every rank \ in the palace, by unnecef- 
fary levees, by introducing Grangers, noblemen, and 
ambaffadors into the royal preience, and by holding 

G privy- 



74 T HE TRAVELLER. 

privy-councils without urgent neceffity. Abroad the 
world, this bleiTed day is profaned by gaming, riding 
for recreation, taking unnecefTary journies, vifits, ban- 
quetings, and marriages; taking too much time up in dreff- 
ing our bodies, allowing ourielves to fleep longer in the 
morning, and go fooner to bed, that day, than on any 
other ; cloying our fpirits, that mould be active in fpi- 
litual exercifes, by living fumptuoufly, and above our 
ordinary method, on that day } — by frequenting vain 
company, or ufing carnal difcourfe, for, as the prophet 
cbferves, where he forbids to " fpeak words," that be- 
caufe we on the Sabbath can fpeak little to advantage, 
it would be much to our advantage to fpeak little >— by 
traverfmg the flreets alter fermon, or walking in crowds 
to fields, gardens, and fuch-like places ) though, Ifaac- 
like, w 7 e may go alone to meditate in the field \ — by 
having roving looks in church, or allowing ourfelves or 
others to fleep \ — by diverting our eyes out at doors, or 
windows, with every thing that paffes by : — by wander- 
ing thoughts, and idle themes ; — by going to public- 
houfes, coffee- houfes, and fuch-like places, reading hif- 
tories or newfpapers, telling news or idle irories \ — by 
jefting, laughing, or too much mirth, and not having 
a compofure of fpirit becoming the dignity of the day \ 
—by carrying on love-fuits, or gallanting fweethearts 
on that facred day, deilgned for nobler entertainment j 
—by buying, felling, or exchanging goods of any kind, 
laying wagers, (having, cleaning houfes or kitchen- 
furniture on that day ; — by flocking to harbours to fee 
fhips fet fail, bringing {lores and provifions on board 
on that day \ — by walking decks, making and mending 
ropes, fcraping births, fewing clothes, writing letters 
to friends, journals, and log-books, which may be done 

t-he 



THE TRAVELLER, 75 

the enfuing day \ — by whittling, Tinging profane fongs, 
and playing on muflcal inftruments j — by building 
bridges, fhips, boats, and other inch veffels \ — by view- 
ing our fields, plantations, orchards, gardens, corns, and 
cattle, to fee if all be in a flourifhing condition \ — by fur- 
veying new houfes and inclofures, or any thing that 
occurs to us by the way, in going to, or coming from, 
church \ — by needlefs compliments, and ufelefs congra- 
tulations, multiplied to excefs, when friends fall in our 
way j — by poftponing operations at hcfpitals, and infir- 
maries, till this day \ — and by every thing w T hereby the 
glory of God^ the edification of others, and the good of 
our own fouls, is not purfued and promoted. 

This heavenly day is wholly to be employed in pu- 
blic, private, and fecret devotion, in the congregation, 
with our families, and by ourfelves alone \ fetting our 
affections on things on high, and ftudving to have our 
converfation in heaven, (hewing a proper concern for the 
j*reat faivation, and preparing for the world to come. 
Alas ! then, I fee how little I know of Sabbath-fan&i- 
fication, and of being in the Spirit on the Lord's day ! 
And, alas ! how is this day profaned, by land and fea ! 
at home and abroad ! in our fleets, and in our armies ! 
in xountry, and in town ! by people of all ranks ? and 
by perfons of all profeffions. 



G 3 MEDfc 



7-6 THE TRAVELLER* 

MEDITATION XXXIV. 

ANCHORING OFF AN ENEMY'S COAST, 

Cancal Bay^ 'June 21. 1758. 

Now we are not far from land, but, however fierce 
the ilorm, we mutt not fet a foot on Chore* elfe we mould 
foon find ourfelves in the power, and at the mercy of 
our enemies* Even fo it fares with the wicked, who 
are at war with the God of the whole earth. Now, in 
the day of patience, they can put off without making 
friendmip with God } but what will they do in their laft 
extremity, in the day of vifitation, and in the defla- 
tion that (hall come from far ? To whom will they flee 
for help, feeing they will not lay claim to one promife, 
and have no intereft in Him that made the promifes ? 
How will they ft and when the ftorm purmes behind, 
and no ihelter prefents icfelf before ? And how will it gall 
them, to fee the faints in quiet refting places, and them- 
felves expofed for ever to the tempeft ? 

But, although we may not land here, yet we may 
return to cur own king's dominions, where we (hall be 
joyfully received. But it is not fo with the firmer, who 
is in rebellion againfi. Heaven. Whither (hall he flee from 
God, or where canhehide himfelf from hisomnifcienteye? 
How (hall he get without the reach of his all-prefent 
arm, or efcape the ftroke of angry Omnipotence ? God 
he has difobeyed, Chrift he has rejected, the promife he 
has defpifed, finned away the day of grace, and tram- 
pled on the patience of Heaven : So, when the Judge 
{hall come in flames, and it (hall be very tempeftuous 

round 



THE TRAVELLER. 77 

round about, what will he do ? To what God can he 
go r To what Saviour can he cry ? To what hand can 
he turn, — to whom lhall he deplore himfelf, — and in 
what ear make his moan r What promife can he plead, 
or to which of the faints can he turn ? Ah ! God is his 
inexorable Judge, and the Saviour is no more his friend , 
all hopes perifh, all helps fail, all friends forfake, pity 
has no ear to his complaint, and mercy no companion on 
his moan ! O how miferable are the wicked, then, who 
thus on oceans of burning brimftone, (hall be expofed to 
the dorms and tempefts of eternal wrath, and never, 
never fee a more ! 

But, on the other hand, how happy art thou, O 
faint ! Every land is the property of Him who in all 
his vaft poffeffions is thine by promife. He is thine who 
can make enemies entreat thee well in adverfity : he is 
thine who is not only the God of the whole earth, buc 
the poffeflbr of heaven and glory ; who is not only the 
Prince of the kings of the earth, but the Father of 
eternity, who holds the waters in the hollow of his hand. 
Thou art fafe, therefore, upon the depths ; and though 
thou fhouldtt never fee thy native country, yet thou 
ihalt make, when thy courfe is finimed, the land that 
lies afar off. 



G 3 ME0I- 



THE TRAVELLER* 



MEDITATION XXXV. 

COASTING ON A COUNTRY OF ANOTHER RE* 
LIGION. 

Under sail> 1753. 

Singe the foolilh fons of men fell a-building their own 
eonfuilon, what a difference of tongues has taken place ! 
Hence, though I was afhore on that land, I could nei- 
ther under ii and, nor be underflood, but by an interpre- 
ter. But, fince defection entered the Chriftian church, 
how, in fome lands, is all gone to confufion ! 

Still the ChiiiHan name continues, but primitive 
Chritlianity is rooted out there, where a pretended fuc- 
ceffor of Peter is the fulfilment of that prediction, which 
mentions the coming of the man of fin, and which to 
me confirms the truth of the fcriptures. They have 
turned the purity of religion into the pomp of fuperfti- 
tion y the limpiicity of the gofpel, into mumbling and 
muttering of prayers, in an unknown tongue *, and the 
Spiritual rule over the flock of God, into a temporal do- 
minion over the kingdoms. They have let go the ker- 
nel and iubftance of religion, for the (hell and mow £ 
hence, fuch adorning of churches, and fuch abundance 
of altars and images. There the man of fin fways his 
midnight fceptre, for filthy lucre forgiving fins which 
God will never acquit, becaufe in a way God never ap- 
pointed, nor will approve of j and, trampling on the di- 
vine command, proflitutes facred things \ hence bapti- 
iing of bells, confecrating places, w 7 ater, &c. It were 
iikfome to repeat their impoftures, and fpiritual whore- 
doms^ 



THE TRAVELLER. *jf} 

doms, with which the nations are drunk \ but, what a 
pity it is to fee them, in the matters of religion, go 
hoodiwinked to hell ! And men fo polite, learned, and 
expert in other refpecls, fo eafily impofed upon in the 
concerns of their falvation ! When (hall the brightnefs 
of the coming of the Son of man, in the purity of the 
gofpel, which is the fword that proceeds out of his 
mouth, make the kings, who now fupport, hate the 
whore, eat her fleih, and burn her with fire ? 

How great is the happinefs, then, of a reformed 
land, where the glorious truths of Chriiiianity are not 
concealed from any, where the poor have the gofpel 
preached. to them, and the fcriptures, loofed from their 
dark originals, in their mother-tongue, and where the 
people are allowed, according to the primitive inliitu- 
tion, to commemorate, in both kinds, the death and 
fufferings of our dearer! Lord ! Wo to them that dwell 
among a people that are terrified for Papal bulls , that 
put light for darknefs, and darknefs for light, good 
works in the place of juftifying righteoufnefs, and the 
Pope in the feat of God \ who, not having attained to 
the fpiritual knowledge of the Redeemer, enflame their 
affections, and kindle their devotions, by gazing on fen- 
fibie reprefentaticns of a furfering Saviour, who can only 
be beheld favingly by the eye of faith. Though with 
our bodily eves we could fee Jefus expiring on the croft 
in deeper! agony and pain, which were better than a 
thoufand crucifixes, and lively pictures, it could only 
move pity in us to him as a tortured man, but could 
not beget in us the faith of his divinity ) hence fo many 
unconverted fpeclators of the awful fcene, and hence 
Hill the lifelefs devotions of the blinded Papifts, 

O ! then, that days of the Son of man would beam 

on 



$0 



THE TRAVELLER. 



on the Chriftian churches, fuch as Rome enjoyed when 
firft obedient to the faith ; that they might caft off the 
yoke of the imperious whore that fits on many a hill, 
and deliver their fouls that dwell in fpiritual Babylon ! 
O ! then, that the Sun of Righteoufnefs would arife with 
healing in his wings, and with his glorious beams difpel 
the darknefs from the nations, and the grofs darknefs 
from the people, that Rome, with the leffer Aria, may 
return to their former purity, to their firft love, and 
over the revived univerfe there may be but one Lord, 
snd his name one* 



MEDITATION XXXVI. 

THE MASTS. 

At sea, June 25. 1758. 

How do the ftately mafts thruft their head into the 
Iky, and fee the breaking billows far beneath them ! 
Even fo fovereigns and princes are exalted far above 
their fubje&s. But, for as high as the mail is raifed above 
the hull, yet its fafety is only by being funk into the 
very body of the fhip ; fo is the king's honour, and the 
prince's fafety, in the multitude of their fubje&s. 

Of what fervice could a fhip without mafts, or mafts 
■without a fhip, be ? So in the body, political, fpiritual, 
and natural, Infinite Wifdom has made every member 
fubfervient to another, that there may be no fchifm. 

Without mafts, which fupport the tackle, and expand- 
ed fails, a fhip could move no where, but would lie like a 

v;reels; 



THE TRAVELLER. 8l 

wreck on the waters - y fo without rulers, and fubordina- 
tion, mult a people perim in tumult and confufion. 

If the malts are exalted in the view of all, they are 
expofed to tempeils from every quarter ; fo fares it with 
men of itaticn and power, they are hated by one, and 
envied by another, reproached by a third, and under- 
mined by a fourth. 

In a dorm, or tempefl, it is fometimes neceffary, in order 
to fave the (hip, to cut the marts by the board j fo, fome- 
times to fave a date, or nation, it is neceffary to de- 
throne a cruel, an obdinate oppreffor, and chafe away a 
tyrant. 

If the hull is rotten, and leaky, though the mails be 
never fo ftrong and frefb, yet the veilel may perilTi in 
trie deep waters ; fo, if the people be irreligious, and li- 
centious, the prudent conduct and probity of the beft 
kings cannot prevent their ruming into ruin. 

It is only when a fhip goes to fea, with her mails and 
top-mads in order, and all her fails unfurled, and filled 
by the gentle breeze, that (he makes fo grand an ap- 
pearance to the peopled (bore ; for, dretching into the 
boundlefs ocean, me leffens gradually till {he can be feen 
no more : Even fo, the men who now are famed over 
half the globe, mail in a little be loir to human eye, on 
the ocean of eternity, and have no mere concern with 
time. 

When the (hip is grown old, and accounted no more 
fit for fervice, (he is brought afhore, and broken up 3 
and then the ftately malls lie equally humble on the. 
ground with the meaner planks, or very keel ; even fo 3 
in death, (hall all Hefh return to daft, and the didinc- 
tions of a few days {hall no mere avail them, (hall take 

place 



Sa THE TRAVELLER. 

place no more. May a belief of this influence me while 
I live below. 



MEDITATION XXXVII. 

UPON ONE BEING PUT UNDER CONFINEMENT 
AEOARD. 

Under sail, *$une 26\ 1753. 
Truly we might be furprifed to think that one could 
be cloler confined in a (hip at fea, than only to be in 
it \ for, what is the veffel but a floating prifon, where 
the clofelt confinement can only deprive a man of a 
few paces > Where can the man go, who has nothing 
over him but the canopy of the iky, or around him but 
the liquid ocean ? Yet to be forbid to walk the very 
deck, to be locked in the cumbrous irons, and put under 
the care of the centinel, and his naked fword, are marks 
of anger and reftraint. 

Even fo, a man may be flraitened in himfelf, 2 pri- 
soner at home, though he might range the globe, and 
find himfelf fettered with grief, and manacled with for- 
row, penfive amidil his pleafures, and dejecled among 
his friends. 

Wherever thefe prifoners are permitted to go, they 
are always attended with the fentinels in aims \ fo the 
man whofe confcience is awakened, mall find a ccnftant 
companion, and unwearied reprover, who will either 
reprove to purpofe, or reproach for ever. 

When a man has tranfgreffed the martial law, neither 
money nor friends fometiznes can prevent punifhment \ 

fo 



THE TRAVELLER. 8$ 

fo nothing in the world can preferve from, or enable to 
fupport a wounded fpirit. If the ftroke comes from above, 
fo mud the relief. How poor are all poffeffions to a 
perfon that has not peace within ! 

One of thefe prifoners mutters and complains, is 
peevitTi, and difpleafed at the fentence of his fuperior, 
but it avails him nothing *, juit fo, to repine at afflic- 
tion, and complain on Providence, is the mark of an un- 
fanclified heart, and cannot Ihorten our trials, or alleviate 
our troubles, but muft fharpen our forrcws, and heighten 
our fufferings. 

But another of them enjoys him felf in his confine- 
ment, is chearful and compofed, knowing that a very 
fhort time mall reflore him to liberty \ even fo, the 
faint, amidft his affiiclions, can be happy and ferene, 
knowing that the period is not far diftant that fhall tranf- 
late him into the glorious liberty of the fons of God. 
Paul and Silas could fing praifes in a prifon, becaufe 
when God giveth quietnefs, none can caufe trouble. 

In a word, what are all the people in the (hip, but 
prifoners, whether they approve or difapprove the ex- 
prefTiorv? Even fo, what is the body but a clog, what 
the whole world but a confinement to heirs of immorta- 
lity, and expectants of heaven ? In this we earneftly 
groan for the better Hate, and long to be unclothed^ 
not that we would peevi(hly drop our exigence, be 
turned out of houfe and home, but only change our pri- 
fon for a palace^ and this corruption put on incorrup- 
tion, and this mortal put on immortality, and we walk 
at perfecl liberty through everlalHng day ! 



5* *HE TRAVELLER. 

MEDITATION XXXVIII. 

THE PROPHET'S DESCRIPTION OF THE WICKED. 

How juft, how adequate, how expreffive the divine 
defcription, " The wicked are like the troubled ocean, 
when it cannot reft, whole waters cafl forth mire and 
dirt W When the tides have teemed their wrecks 
on the inmort mores, and in the ecb have left the 
fmoothed fand, ail looks gay, and one would think the 
bottom of the ocean is fwept, and waihed of all its 
wrecks and weeds » but the next tide proves my conjec- 
ture falie, and fpreads a freih proof of my deception 
on the flic re : Juft fo it is with the wicked ; when 
I think they might have emptied themfelves of oaths, 
imprecations, and filthy communications, accompli ihed 
their wlckednefs, brought forth all the r vilenefs, and 
wearied themfelves in committing fin, yet, without inter* 
million, they proceed from evil to worfe. 

As there is a continual growth, of weeds, and accef- 
fion of other wrecks, every tide, therefore, fpues out 
mire and dirt ; fo, out of the evil tieafure of the heart, 
evil things continually proceed. Rut the civilized {in- 
ner has nothing to bo aft ; for, though his words maj 
not be fo vile as thofe of abandoned wretches, yet, as 
they pour from the carnal mind, and the carnal mind 
being enmity againfl God, can produce nothing pleafmg 
in his fight, fo they are vile before God : Therefore, 
though not fo difagreeable in a fober ear, as the pro- 
fane fwearer, obfeene talker, or unprofit :er. yet. 

not 



THE TRAVELLER. S| 

not coming frcm a fanctified heart, are accounted fin in 
his eve, who is purity itfelf, and with a pleafant coun- 
tenance beholdeth the upright. 

Sometimes the raging leas ebb, and leave their 
fhores clean and comely, but, all of a fudden, they 
return with frefn defilement, and fcatter over them 
mire and dirt. Even fo have I feen fome perfons, by a 
temporary repentance, appear to fcrfake their former 
courfes, and to lead a new life, but, all of a fudden, 
like a fpring-tide, their wickednefs breaks out with 
greater violence than ever, and the lad Rate of that 
man is worfe than the fir it. 

As nothing lefs than the voice of the Almighty C2n 
calm the re ft lefs ocean, and fay to the raging feaj Peace f 
be full *, fo nothing lefs than infinite power (let not 
mortals prefume, let not finners dcfpair) can convert 
tranigrellors, and make their heart precious as a fpring 
(hut up, pleafant as a fountain fealed. 



MEDITATION XXXIX. 

ON THE PATIENCE OF GOD WITH SINNERS. 

Off 'France, June 27. 1753. 

Verily thou art God, that thus beareft with the 
wickednefs of men, though of purer eyes than to behold 
iniquity. Did our fuperior officers meet with equal dif- 
cbedience to their mandates, the fame irreverence, con- 
tumely and reproach to their very face, from thefe 
abandoned wretches, would they put up therewith v 
iso 3 death, or fome dreadful puniilment, would fiid- 

H denl j 



85 THE TRAVELLER. 

denlybe inflic~ted on the daring tranfgfeflbrs, God will- 
be glorified in the bright difplay of all his divine perfec- 
tions : and the defperate madnefs of Goners againft the' 

heavens, and their blafphemous talk againft the mcft 
High, cannot prevail with him to change his purpofe^ 
and puniih them before the time appointed, becaufe he- 
is God : Nor fhall their miferie^ and bemoaning, their 
anguidi and their intreaties, make him fpare them a 
-moment longer, when the appointed day comes, or mi- 
tigate their torments, becaufe he is God. A ihoufand 
years are with God but as one day, feeing all eternity 
is his immoveable NOW. Now, what are the few un- 
happy years of a thoughtlefs defper ado's life, but as a 
few moments to a criminal betwixt his ientence and exe- 
cution r So God will fill up the meafure of his patience , 
and if they fill up the meafure of their fin, in the time 
of God's patience, bis joAice (hall fill up the meafure 
of their punimment in the day that his thundering right- 
hand ihall calx the ftrength of his fury and fiery indig- 
nation on them for ever. Re -is filent now in the day 
of his Ion g-fuffe ring, and they will not hear the voice 
of his goodnefs ', but he will loudly accoit them in the 
day of his anger, and they lhall hear the thunders of 
his wrath. God, by his long- fuffe ring, has a double 
■work on the wheel, his wrath to ftiew*, and his power 
to make known on the veffels of wrath, thereby fitted 
to deftrufiion •, and the riches of his glory, to make 
known on the veffels of mercy, who are thus prepared 
for glory. Let the finner acknowledge the patience of 
God, and be led to repentance 5 and the faint adore 
the patience of God. and be encouraged to perfeverance'; 
and may God be glorified in all his divine perfeftions. 

MEDL 



THE TRAVELLER. &7 



MEDITATION XL. 

€N THE EXCELLENCY OF THE CHRISTIAN RELIGION 

ABOVE THE JEWISH, WITH RESPECT TO A 

TRAVELLER. 

Off Trance, June 28. 1758. 

Ths Jewifh religion confided in a noble and emblema- 
tical affemblage of rites and ceremonies, which, though 
glorious, was to give place to that religion which could 
bcaii of a triumphant majefty, a fupereminent glory, 
and a permanent duration. That was attended with 
external pomp and grandeur, the beauty of this lies in 
its firnrMicit^ and fpirituaiity. 

How uncomfortable were my fituatiori here, if I 
could not approach the altar that fan61if.es the gift 
without being feen, ptaife Gcd without the high found- 
ing cymbal, pialtery, or harp, and offer up to Cod' my 
facrirlce in mine own breath ! if I could not be fprink- 
led with the blood of cleanfing, without the high-prieii 
ufing all the round cf ceremonies ! if I could not re- 
pent, and be accounted clear, without external waih- 
ings, and if I behoved to lock towards Jerufalexn, in 
my adorations ! . But, as a Chriftian, I may prsy every 
where, and, even in the mid it of the unclean, mayofiet 
up my facrince of mental praife ) yea, to God who ices 
in fecret, and knows the heart, I may pray in iecret ; 
or, when that is denied, I may in my own heart* pons 
out to him rny fupplication, and, in the midft of confur* 
Con, may meditate on his glory and goodnefs. And, 
as I may thus freely ccme to h!m ; wherever I am, fb 

H2 he 



38 



TEE TRAVELLER. 



he whofe fire of old came down, and confuroed the facri- 
fice on the altar, in mercy can come to me, and kindle 
a flame of love in my foul, and fpeak kindly to me, from 
off the invifible mercy-feat, Chrift Jefus. Then there 
is one perfed facrifke which, every where, and always, 
I (hall keep in eye 5 one fountain at which I (hall al- 
ways warn $ one Interceffor, and great High-Prieft, 
whom I mall always employ, and through whom I (hall 
feek accefs to God, waiting to be bleffed at laft in the 
full enjoyment of God, Father, Son, and Holy Ghoft. 
world without end. 



MEDITATION XLI. 

COASTING ALONG ANOTHER KING'S DOMINIONS. 

Under sail, July 1. 1758. 
The contented fwain may travel far and near, yea, 
live and die in his own king's dominions \ but a fair wind 
may foon fetch him that plows the flowing ocean, where 
his fovereign cannot claim an inch of land, or, if he (lands 
to fea, he may foon find himfelf diftant from all (hores, 
in an unmeafurable world of waters, which owns no fu- 
perior but Him who formed the fea and the dry land, 
I may offend my prince here, and yet fly out of his 
reach, and bid defiance to his rage 3 but, if I (in againfi 
God, whither (ball I fly for help, or how (hall I ef- 
cape ? Britain and India are alike before him> height 
and depth are in his hand, and diftance, which only 
bears relation to creatures, bears none to the Creator, 
who is every where pre fen t a and fille-th all in all. I 

may 



THE TRAVEkLEK* 89, 

t*ay fccner deprive a rational bein picufiiefsj 

or hide me from myfelf, than keep concealed from Cm- 
nee. 

. king, cr an emperor, travel round the g"obe y 

many times he would find himfelf in kingdoms where 

he could claim no intereft \ but, if I belong to God, I 

can claim his providence and prote&ion in every dc= 

land. How well pleafed would a 

e be, to le, in the drefs of a 

\ through the extensive dominions of his royal 

cr ! Could he quarrel at hard ufage, the homely 

• tl e 
? Would it n under all, 

lace 

loud ace jid court, ar.d embraced 

manner, while on 

ie adih'e^ Is as 

a drar.ger in thefe remote parts of my father's poffeflions, 

and ur.ocferved, becaufe it is not as yet propeT in the. 

dug that I Ihculd be clothed in princer- 

yet, how am I delighted that all thefe kingdoi 

are under his government, tremble at his frown, and 

own his fovereignty : and though I now ft em poorer 

many cf his fubjecls in thefe provinces, who have 

finall eitates in hand, yet I am fo happy in the noblenefs 

of my defcent, in the dignity of my relations, in the 

profpeel of my ru'ture greatnefs, and approaching glory, 

that I would not change ftates with any of them ; for, 

en the day appointed for my coronation, by the mighty 

ibvereign, to whom I am fo nearly related, I (hall* in 

the fight of afTembled thoufands, receive a fceptre, and 

a crown.' Even- fo, the faints are in all refpeeds the 

H 3 happy 



p& THE TRAVELLER. 

happy ones, for the untverfe belongs to Him who has a 
care of them. Diftant climates, therefore, need not 
look ilrange to them, for, if they live near God ? they 
can never be far from home. 



MEDITATION XLIL 

ON HEARING FROM FRIENDS, 

St Hekn\ July 5. 1 158. 

He that has not left his affections and care in his na- 
tive country, as well as his friends, is not a little re- 
freihed by frequent accounts from them r that they are 
alive, and in profperity* But all this will not fatisfy 
him that fore longeth to fee his near relations, and his. 
native country, after being long abfent from it. A 
thoufand letters, written with all the tendernefs of a 
father, embellithed with all the rhetoric of paternal 
endearments, mull give place to an hour's eonverfation r 
mouth to mouth, with that father whofe kind and affec- 
tionate letters increafed the filial regard, with that mo- 
ther whofe continual prayers and good wiihes^ have 
ilrengthened the afreciion of her fon» Nothing lets than 
feeing them face to face, talking w T ith them friendly and 
freely, hearing all their Hate, and learning of all their 
welfare, can fatisfy his longing, and quiet his ftruggling 
bread. 

Even h. nothing can fully fatisfy the deiires of the foul 
that is born from above, and is a native of the better 
country, but the immediate viiion of God. All he re- 
ceives below, only begets a diiquietude in his foul, (but 

fuch 



THE TRAVELLER. pi 

fuch a difquietude as delights), that cannot be at red 
till wafted to the fruition of God. The brighter his 
views of heavenly things, the more ardent his ivifh.es 
for the poiTeilion of them. Hence, fays the aged, the 
experienced, and great apoftle Paul, who had been 
caught up into the third heaven, carried into paradife, 
and heard the unutterable language of blifs, u I have 
a defire to depart, and to be with Chrift." 

All the bright difplays of the glory and goodnefs of 
God, which faints enjoy below, compared with what is 
referved for eternity, is only a Tight of his back- parts. 
Now, let us fee the import of the metaphor : The face 
is like the fair epitome of the whole man, fo that limners 
commonly draw no more than the countenance \ the face 
turned away denotes indignation, but bright and fmilingis 
a fign of favour -, and, again, the countenance is like the 
index of the mind, where we can fee cloud? gather, and 
tempers break, or peace and tranquillity within* Ac- 
cordingly, we have thefe expressions in fcripture, " Blet 
fed are the people that walk in the light of thy coun- 
tenance : Caufe thy face to urine on us : Thou didit hide 
thy face, and I was troubled : Neither will I hide my 
face any more from them : As for me I (hall behold thy 
face in sight eoufnefs." What, then, mud the cori- 
fummate happineis of that tfate be, where we (hall fee 
God face to face ! 

Then, Lord, the mod that I can find below, is but 
a crumb to the banquet above. When thy appointed 
time comes, with what joy will I leave all thefe merci- 
ful communications of thy grace and good will, conveyed 
through thy word and ordinances, (which, like letters of 
favour, affure me of the affection of mine exalted Head,, 
and cheer me in the houfe of my pilgrimage), and go home 

tc 



$2 TEE TRAVELLER, 

to eternal, uninterrupted communion with thee ! Wheny 
dear Lord, may my love and longing afk, When (halt 
I fee the face cf my Beloved, that face that is fairer 
than the fun;? When mail all the vail expectations of 
my faith be readied in glory ? When (hall my well-be- 
loved, who is unto me as a bundle cf myrrh, lie, not 
for a Ihort night, but through an endlefs day,, between 
my breafts ; When (hall durance be done away, that I 
may approach thee, and never more be debarred from 
thy throne ? When (hall my {ou\, all eye, fix for eter- 
nity on thy excellent glory ? As yet, I have only ken 
feme paflirig glim pies of thy back parts ; but there is an 
abiding, permanent, afiirnilating gaze on thy glorious 
countenance, which fhail crown my felicity through 
endlefs ages. May not the foul that is efpoufed to that 
glorious Hufband, who is the chiefeft among ten thou- 
fand, long to fee her hufband, long for the marriage- 
fupper of the Lamb, and weary for the day of being 
brought home, to be for ever in his hcufe f for ever in 
his prefence ? Surely, were my love to him more, I 
mould long more for him ; but I am ready to take up 
with other lovers in his abfence. The world, and the 
things of time, are bufy to cool mine affeclion to the 
facred fuitor, the divine and unchangeable lover ; but 
hence, all things that would divert my flame from him 
who is altogether lovely. When (hall thefe eyes fee 
him for myfelf, and not for another ? I am like one 
born abroad, that has never feen his father, nor hi3 
♦friends } but am travelling home, and (hall never be 
happy till I be with my beM Friend. I have heard of 
thee by the hearing of the ear, and the account has 
comforted my foul ) but now I long to fee thee with my 
eye, and be for ever ravilhed with the heavenly virion* 

Surely 



THE TRAVELLER. J)| 

Surely at my arrival at thy throne, O gracious Re* 
deemer ! when I (hall fee thy wonderful afcent to it, even 
by fufferings, the (landing of thy faints about it, the 
apparel arid entertainment of thy chofen ones, and all 
thy other glories, I (hall knew then that all the ac- 
count which I ever heard falls infinitely (hort of thy 
majefty and glory. Let it, then, comfort me, that in a 
little thou fhalt fulfil my requeft, fatisfy my longings 
and bring me home to be for ever with the Lord. 



MEDITATION XLIIL 

ON THE WELL OF THE SHIP. 

Spithead, July 7. 1758. 
One might be furprifed, that when the (hip admits 
Very little water within, they mould by a pipe from the 
ocean convey fuch a quantity, that the pump mull be 
fet a-work before it can be caft out again : Yet the de- 
vice is highly praife-worthy \ for thus the corrupted, 
{linking, and poifonous dregs, are caft out, which, with- 
out this large addition of water, would never come 
within the ftroke of the chain-pump, but would grow 
intolerably putrid, as it is well known to difcolour folicl 
metals, and affedt, every thing near it. Even fo, ori- 
ginal fin is that poifon that lies deep within, contami- 
nates all around, whole filth defiles all the powers of 
the mind, all the members of the body, and whofe guilt 
makes the whole man obnoxious to all the miferies of 
time, to all the torments of hell. Again, fome times 
Keaven is pleafed to permit a perfon to fall into grofs 

Gutbreakings, 



94 THE TRAVELLER. 

outbreakings, that thereby he may be led to fee the 
-corruption of his nature, and to bewail the fpring from 
which fuch deadly dreams proceed. Thus the pfalmift 
confeffes, that he, as well as all mankind, was conceived 
in fin, and born in iniquity. And wherever faviwg 
grace is difplayed in fubcuing fin, there alfo the guilt 
of original (in is forgiven, and its filth taken #way. 
: It is very remarkable, that God refines his own people, 
not only by afflictions, judgements, and mercies, but by 
fins $ thus fometimes the air is purified by a thunder- 
ftorm : Hence, fays God by the prophet Ezekie], xiv. 
9. & I I. u If a prophet be deceived, I have deceived 
that prophet, and the people that feek to him are alfo 
deceived, and they (hall bear the pumihment of their 
iniquity." Now, for what end is a prophet permitted 
to fpeak lies, and the people to feck to a lying prophet ? 
That they might go no more a (tray, pollute his Jholy 
name no more, but that he might be their God, and 
they might be his people. Thus, Peter's pride and 
felf- confidence is fo cured by his denial of Chriil, that 
when Jefus, after his refurreclion, puts to him a kindly 
queiHon, " Simon, fon of Jonas, loveft thou me r" 
he dares not fay, as formerly, O Lord, my love is fuch 
that I can die for thee, but humbly appeals to himfelf, 
6i Thou knoweft that I love thee." Our Lord repeats 
the queftion, and he returns the fame anfwer ; but a 
third time puts him to pain, i Does my Lord diflruft 
-my love, doth he fufpect its fincerity ? It is true, alas ! 
I have denied him, and he knows me better than I do 
royfelf \ but my heart, confcious of fincerity, appeals 
to his omnifciency, " Thou that knoweft all things, 
knoweft that I love thee." 

Moreover, the daily experience of the faints will at* 

teix, 



• THE TRAVELLER. (£$> 

teft, that all their lifetime they hate and abhor that finn 
moil by which they have mod diihonoured God, and 
wounded their own fouls. Alas ! what daily caufe 
have I to mourn over my depravity, whofe life is bktck- : 
ened with daily outbreakings from this fountain that 
denies! Hence fo many vain thoughts, and low appre-> 
henfions of the holinefs and majeily of God *, hence fo 
many trifling delights *, hence fuch an eager purfuit of 
perishing pleafuies, and polluted joys, which, on a nar- 
row furvey, and ferious thought, I muit throw all a- 
way. 

- But, fuch is the wonderful method of Him, whofe 
ways are pafl finding out, that he faves by calling away, 
brings through hell to heaven \ and, by one fin break- 
ing out, makes the foul hate and abhor, fight and 
watch againii all fin, and have daily recourfe to the 
blood of fprinkling, and to the Spirit of all grace for 
divine aiTi (lance. 



MEDITATION XLIV. 

THE COMPANY OF THE WICKED. 

Spithead, July 8. 1758. 
When for our continual company we have the wic- 
ked, we cannot but continue our lamentation, and re- 
peat our complaint, " Wo is me that I fcjourn in Me- 
fech, and dwell in the tents of Redan" When I have 
confidered the carnal men, who know nothing of the 
power of religion, and the abandoned wretches, who 
have not even the appearance of religion, how fhould I 

efteem 



9<5 THE TRAVELLER. 

efteem the company of faints here below, and the com- 
munion of the glorious hods above ! When the day of 
my diffolution comes, how fhall I be tranfported to find 
myfelf among an aiTembly of fan&ified ones, where reli- 
gion, in its purity, is their eternal theme ! Not an idle 
word among all the amazing multitude, nor one vain thought 
among the vaft concourfe ! Their fociety is improving, and 
their converfation (hall comfort for ever. No doubt 
but the wickednefs of the prefent world will to the faints 
fweeten the fanclity of the world to come \ and their 
-own corruption, from which they cannot wholly rid 
themfelves now, dignify that noble change, when cor- 
ruptible (hall put on incorruption, and mortality be 
fwallowed up of life *, fo will their imperfect graces ag- 
grandife their perfection in glory. What, then, ill all 
be my happinefs, when my fellow-faints (hall be fpot- 
lefs flames of love, and I adore with them in the unity 
of the Spirit, in the bond of perfect and perpetual 
peace ! when the moving of their tongues in the praifes 
of my deareft Lord, (hall affuage all my former grief, 
and charm my ravifhed ear ! when every foul (hall at- 
tempt the louden 1 fong, and high eft encomium on our 
beft Beloved ! and when among the adoring throng, not 
one finner, which are now fo numerous, nay, not one 
hypocrite fhall ftand ! O how T fhall we fpeak to one an- 
other of Him who is altogether lovely, and being trans- 
formed into his likenefs, how amiable and agreeable 
(hall we be to one another ! For, like lines in a circle 
pointing to the centre, the nearer to which they come, 
the nearer to others they approach, till running into 
the centre, they unite in one another : Juft h 9 dwell- 
ing in Chrift, we mall be united to one another in love. 
Then I fhall not only be free from my wicked com- 
pany, 



THE TRAVELLER. 97 

pany, "but from every thing in my foul that can difquiet 
or give pain. No pollution from without, no corrup- 
tion within, but all is perfect fanftity. O triumphant 
ftate of perfect liberty ! where my companions (hall not, 
as now, drive me from God, but, as it were, draw me 
to the very throne : " Come, let us worfhip the Lord \ 
I will go alfo." The forethought of that happy ftate 
fliall comfort me till the days of my mourning be ended. 



MEDITATION XLV. 

ON AWAKING AT MIDNIGHT. 

Now the filent night fpreads its fhadcws on all, and 
calms the uneafy crew, who are locked fa ft in fleep, ex- 
cept thofe who are on duty; and never are they lefs 
offenfive to God or men, than when in {lumbers. 

In a little, the bufy world (hall be aw T aked to purfue the 
affairs of life ; but the greater part, in refpedl of fpiri- 
tual things, are fan 1 aileep, yea, chained among the dead} 
hence fays the apoftle, " Awake, thou that fieepeft, and 
arife from the dead, and Chrift (hall give thee light." 

Amidft the blackefl gloom that dwells on midnight with 
refpeel: to the natural eye, the foul is at no lofs to view 
immaterial beings by the eye of her underflanding, and 
to behold her fupreme good by the eye of faith. Yea^ 
a day dwells within the foul that is enlightened from a- 
bove, even while fhades of darknefs furround the 
body - ? and this day is much more beautiful than the 
brighter! fun-fhine to the naked eve. 

Though, through ignorance, I thought that all had 
been darknefs in the univerfe till the fun was kindled up, 

I yet 



98 THE TRAVELLER. 

yet I fee that even then all was bright, unbounded, and 
eternal day; becaufe God is light, and in him is no dark- 
nefs, and he nlleth all in all. But when God was plea- 
fed to befpangle a little track, a foot- breadth or two of 
fpace, with various globes, and on fome of them to form 
creatures with bodily organs, which needed a material 
medium to judge of fenfible objecls, in this refpecl: Ci dark- 
nefs was on the face of the deep ;" for their comfort 
he created the light \ and from the light he formed the 
fun, to illuminate the body: being ftillhimfelf the infinite- 
ly more gloriousLight of the mind, fo that whenever he is 
pleafed to difplay himlelf in a fpecial manner, the fun 
is darkened at his prefence, as befel Paul when fa- 
voured with the heavenly vifion. Now, had all been 
created fpirits, like the angels, there had been no need 
for natural light, for the Father of fpirits is to them the 
fountain of light \ and fometimes they have brought fuch 
abrightnefswith them from the throne of glory, (likeMo- 
fes when he came down from the mount of God), fuch a 
blaze of light fpreading round about, as has amazed the 
ailonifhed fpeftators. Thus, neither the natural darknefs 
of the night, nor the thick darknefs of forrow, affliction, 
and woe, nor the pitchy darknefs of death, (hall fpread a 
fnade over thofe who have his prefence, diitufing fere- 
nefl noon in their fouls wherever they go \ as, on the 
other band, the fallen angels, caft out of his favourable 
prefence, are kept in chains of darknefs, though allowed 
to roam over this univerfe in the noon-day beamings of 
the natural fan. 

Again, a man may enjoy the light of life, and 
bafk himfelf in the pleafant beams of affluence and 
peace, while nothing but a dark and ftormy night fur* 
rounds his foul. As the ievening-fhadows mantle the 

world, 



THE TRAVELLER. 99 

world, fo they produce a filence and tranquillity over 
all \ but the darkneis that ieizes the foul from an angry 
or concealed God, awakens the keened anguifh, and 
pours ftorms and tempeils in all the powers of the mind, 
which raife this complaint, " Thou did it hide thy face, 
and I was troubled/' But what comfort may it yield 
me, that, though the nights feem long, the darknefs 
thick, the temper! s loud, and the thunders terrible, the 
Sun is on his way, will fhonly rife, and afford eternal 
day ! that I ihall walk in the light of his countenance, 
and in his light fee light clearly ! Then, and not till 
then, " mall mine age be clearer than the noomday, and 
I (hall mine forth, and be as the morning." 



MEDITATION XLVI. 

ON ONE CURSING AND SWEARING AT AN AFFRONT. 

S pithead, July 10. 1758. 
This difclofes to me the dreadful confuiion and deplo- 
rable paffion which the wicked (hail be put into at the 
tremendous bar ! Here that poor wretch, for a matter 
of no moment compared to his eternal felicity, roars, 
rages, foams, and blafphemes. What furprifing, chil- 
ling, and unheard-of oaths, even where oaths are tea 
much heard every day, purfue one another in his fiend- 
like fury ! Scarce can he tell what troubles him for 
belching out hideous, horrid, and uncommon oaths, pro- 
teftations, and imprecations, not to be allowed to return 
ever into the memory again but in a way of deplora* 
tion. 

Now, if fuch be the language of Tinners on earth, what 

ftall be their dialed in hell, when they (hill turn their 

I 3 blafphemies 



100 THE TRAVELLER. 

blafphemies againft the bleffed, but tremendous Aven- 
ger himfelf ! when their kindling eyes (hall fwell with 
fury ! Here they curfe others, or invoke damnation on 
ihemfelves ? but then and there, they (hall blafphem€ 
God for his burning indignation, and, in perpetual rage 
and fury, rife up againfl incenfed Omnipotence itfelf \ 
and this (hall increafe their torment, that they madly 
oppofe their feeble power, and unfubdued enmity, againft 
the infinite Affiicrer, whereby they, as it were, approve 
of their old rebellion againft . their rightful Lord, and 
make it evident that he is juft when he condemns and 
puniihes his foes. But O what a countenance will they 
put on, what paihon, what revenge, what anguifh, what 
rage, what horror, what burning envy in their foul, what 
lolling eyes, and trembling joints, what tormenting con- 
fuiion of thought, what terrible difquiet, and cenfum- 
mate defpair, will tear and prey on them for ever \ 
Againft whom will they ft amp, frowu, ftorm, and foam, 
like this defperado ? Whom will they threaten ? God, 
their eternal foe, is far above their reach, holds them 
down in chains of everlafting wrath, and roars againft 
them with the thunders of his right hand for ever. 

Now, as I heard expreftlons terribly ftrange, and oaths 
to me entirely' new T , (which I pray may be fo for ever, and 
never grate my ear again), from hence I infer, that 
the blafphemies of the damned, now T paft all hope, and 
filled with unrelenting enmity, are fo extremely and in- 
conceivably dreadful, fo excefiively horrid, that the moll 
abandoned fwearer, the mailer cf the ne weft and blacked 
blafphemies on earth, comes not near them \ juft as the 
fliarpeft pains we feel in time, bear no proportion to the 
excruciating torments of the damned. This defperado's 
paMioTi aiTuages by little and little, and he becomes him- 

m 



THE TRAVELLER. 1 01 

felf by degrees 5 but there their pafiion and tumult ever 
grows, even againft God. Their foul abhors him, and 
his foal alfo loathes them. O then to be wife, and leam 
wifdom from every thing I fee! 



MEDITATION XL VII. 

GOD^ equity in the eternity of torment. 

July 10. 1758. 

Man is daiingly bold to find fault with God. and tell 
him to his face, that his ways are not equal. To make a 
creature onlv to be miferable for force fmall offence, to 
make a creature to be damned, they think is not juft in a 
Being laid to be infinitely juft 5 or to punifh a few follies 
in frail man, the extravagancies of a few days with eter- 
nal w T rath, and the failings of a finite creature, that is 
crufhed before the moth, with the whole collected fury 
of an Omnipotent God, an Almighty Avenger. 

As to the rlrft, God creates not to deitroy, but f' 
delighteth in mercy; yet, before any creatures rob him o£ 
his glory by a courfe of (in, he will magnify himfelFijv 
their damnation. Again, (hall the man that derides re- 
velation, fcorns to fearch the word of truth, contemn? 
counfel, cads inftruclion behind his back, hates him that 
reproveth, fins 3 gain ft his light, will not hearken to ths 
reproofs of confcience, but runs into all fin with precipi- 
tance, and commits wickednefs with greedinefs, drag- 
ging as many as he can with him to hell ; — (hall fuch a 
wretch (and generally fuch they are who have rhefe 
forry and pitiful pleas) talk of mercy ? Would he have 

I 3 God 



102 THE TRAVELLER, 

God to take him, fin and all, to heaven, who wouL 
forfake his fin for heaven, nor ceafe from wickednefs for 
God ? Thofe who will not receive mercv, who will not 
have a gift of falvation on God's terms, and in God's time, 
muft expect, damnation from him in due time, which 
fhall me a lure with eternity, 

I have, of a long time, been convinced of the punifli- 
ment for fin being infinite (as far as creatures can fuiiain) 
and eternal, on account of the infinite Majeity againft 
whom it was committed j becaufe it is impoiuble for 
finite creatures, who deipife the fatisfaction provided by 
God, to fatisfy in their own perfons for one fin ; and be- 
caufe the finner continues, even in torment, the enemy of 
God and righteoufnefs. But now I fee another thing, 
even that punifhment, infinite and eternal, is no more 
than the juft reward of their fin j for the finner employs 
all his thoughts, axerts all his might, and goes to the 
very utmoft of his finite omnipotence (may I ufe the ex- 
preflipn?) againft God. By his power, had he power equal 
to his impious inclinations, he would deitroy righteoufnefs 
out of the world, juft as he does in his own breaft \ yea, 
could he effeS it, he would pull the angels out of hea- 
ven, who daily tears the moral law in pieces ; nay, could 
he rife in power, he would contend even with the Al- 
mighty, and take the government of heaven and earth out 
cf his hand, who will not let God govern his poor iniigni- 
ficant felf. Now 7 , is it not no more than ftri£tjufticein Ccd 
to ptmiih to the uttermoft of his powder, thofe who Hn 
againft him to the uttermoft of their powder \ and not to 
repent in calling the fury of his wrath on them who, in 
their finning againft him, knew no repentance ? More- 
over, is it not equitable with God to punifh thofe as 
long as he lives, who finned againft him as long as they 

lived 2 



THE TRAVELLER. I03 

lived ? So may an earthly king condemn to perpetual 
imprifonment a rebel or a regicide. Again, though 
their life was (hort and paffing, yet how did they fpend 
it, every moment of it, in abominable fin ! and fince they 
fpend the eteinit y of their life (might I again ufe the ex- 
predion ?) againft God, and would never ceafe to offend 
the evei lading Jehovah, were they to continue in their 
prefent ft ate to perpetuity 5 therefore it is but juft that 
he Ihould puniih them through the eternity of his exig- 
ence. Finally, (inner s have no grounds of excufe or 
complaint left, being well appiifed of their danger in 
time, and therefore ihall, through an eternity of tor- 
ment, confefs that their own ways have been unequal, 
but that God is juft and equal in all his ways. 



MEDITATION XL VIII, 

INSTRUCTIONS FROM THE COMMUNICATIONS GF THE 
WICKLD. 

Spitloead, July 12. 1758. 
Sore, if ever grace dwelt in my foul, if ever I w'as 
mg the faints, I have been to blame, that had no- 
thing to utter in commendation of religion, nothing to 
in honour of God ; or if I dropt a word or two, that 
I drew it not out into a difcourfe, and dwelt not longer 
on the theme; but if ever Providence permit me to 
breathe again in the fragrant air of converfe with the 
godly, I think I mall be more open hearted than ever I 
have been,. Forgive me, Keaven \ forgive me, faints ; 
forgive me, iinners, who knows what good a good word 

might 



104 TH E TRAVELLER. 

might have done fome of you \ forgive me, my own con* 
fciencej and as I cannot excufe myfelf for time part, for 
opportunities loft, let me be more watchful in all time 
coming. 

I am inftrucled to this by the open profanity of the wicked. 
They are not alhamed to fpeak and talk in a (train which 
we would think the fiends of hell could not go beyond. 
They expofe their fecret fins in a manner which might 
make ordinary finners blufh. How foon they reveal 
their wickednefs to one another, and let it be known to 
what fociety they belong, by bafenefs in the extreme ! 
and ihall thou, O faint ! and I, when we mall meet, not 
let it be known that we are heirs of the fame promife, 
foldiers under the fame colours, combatants in the 
fame caufe, fervants of the fame Lord, difciples of the 
fame mailer, and expectants of the fame glory ? It is 
true, religion is a fecret thing ; its duties are to be 
performed in the clofet, not in the ftreet, and He w 7 ho fees- 
in fecret will at the laft day reward us openly. Again, 
we who bear the Chriftian name chufe to be filent too 
often on ferious matters, left at any time, by grofs out- 
breaking, we become a fcandal to religion ; or thofe whc* 
have not the root of the matter in them fcandalife us- 
for our religion. But as thefe wicked ones are under 
no rellraint in their profanity, ihall we, who make fo high 
profeftion, be altogether filent on ferious fubjec"ts? They a- 
vow their God, who is the god of this world ; and (hall we 
not avouch the Lord for our God ? They are of their 
father the devil, and do his works ; and fhall we not ' 
walk in the name of the Lord our God for ever and 
ever ? Is not our Mafter more honourable, our iervice 
more noble, our encouragement more powerful, our re- 
ward more certain, our aHociates more eligible, and our 

delights 



TEE TRAVELLER. I05 

delights and pleafures more permanent and divine, than 
all the wicked can boaft of ? Why then not talk to one 
another cf the excellencies of oar great Lord, his kind- 
nefs to his fervants, what befals us in our pilgrimage, 
the furpriimg providences of our life, and the outlettings of 
his love to our fouls ? " Come, hear, all ye that fear 
Gcd, and I will tell you what he hath done for my foul," 
faid the pialmift ) and have we nothing to tell, no words 
wherewith we may comfort one another ? Yea, we fhould 
fpeak in commendation cf religion to all } for whoever 
mock, ftill wifdom is juftified of her children } and feoff 
who will, we ought to do our duty. Then, in my pre- 
fent fltuation, all my communings muft be with mine 
own heart •, I mull: talk with myfelf, but muft be filent 
to others \ yet I may make my prayer to the God of my 
life, exprefs my trouble to him, and pour out my com- 
plaint before him, pleading, that as the years are full of 
evil, and the days of grief, fo he may comfort me, 



MEDITATION XLIX. 

SORROW FOR SIN A SIGN OF GRACE. 

S pithead 1 'July 13. 1758. 
Su? v ELY I am not fo zealous for the God of heaven as 
I ought to be, Had I this day received an affront, or 
had any fpit in my face, would not the affront go to bed 
with me, fieep and wake with me, yea, difturb me of my 
fleep? Where is, then, my zeal for God, that 1 can quietly 
go to reft, and with an eafy mind, when I fee and know 
finners avowedly wound the glory of God, fpit in the- 

face 



106 THE TRAVELLER. 

face of Divine Majefty, daringly break all thy command- 
ments, think thy precepts are a jeft, trample on thy re- 
proof, laugh at thy threatenings, brave thy thunders, 
and defy thy wrath ? While their practice is fo curfed, 
mould my fpirit be fo unconcerned ? Should the loyal 
fubjecl: be quiet and ftill when he knows a plot of re- 
bellion is forming againd his king, by whom he is main- 
tained, yea, beloved? Then, -what ih all I fay of -thefe 
obdurate tinners ? I complain againft them to thee \ I 
hate their conduct, I lament their infatuation, and de- 
plore their cafe. The day is confcious of their crimes, 
the night attefts their debauches. I deplore and protefl 
againft all their oaths and profanity, their obfcenity and 
vilenefs, their Sabbath-breaking, and all their other 
abominations. fhey fly from thee in the day of thy 
grace, and (hall be punilhed with everlafiing deftruclion 
from thee, and the glory of thy power, in the day of 
judgement. May thy honour never be lefs valued by 
me, nor I lefs grieved for the wounding thereof, that fo 
many value it fo little. May fin never become lefs 
odious to me by being committed before me \ and let 
my forrow for fin in others tefiify my innocence, and 
that I have no delight therein, while my foul (hall mourn 
in fecret places for them who hate holinefs and love 
death, 



MEW- 



THE TRAVELLER. IO7 

MEDITATION L. 

ON HEARING A RUMOUR OF PEACE. 

Spithead, July 19. 1758. 
With what achearful countenance did the greater part 
appear to hear the report of peace ! Thefe poor fellows, 
fbme of whom were irnpreffed to the field, fome to the 
fleet, now worn out with war, and long abfent from their 
nearer!: relations, and their deareft friends, exult at the 
very thoughts of peace, and feel an inward iatisfa&ion 
that refrefhes every power. How T then, O my foul ! who 
art engaged in a more cruel war, carried on by more 
bloody foes, purfued without intermiffion, with all the 
rage of the roaring lion, the cunning of the old ferpenr, 
and vigilance of the pit, the iffue of which is of much 
greater moment than the ftruggles for empire, or the 
ftrife of kings 5 how fhouldft thou rejoice at that eternal 
peace which (hall take place when all thy foes (hall fall 
before thee, and death, the lad enemy, (hall be deftroy- 
ed for ever ! Then thou (halt not only quit the field 
with fafety and honour, but come off more than con- 
queror through him that loved thee ! 

-Are men fo fond to quit the martial plain, and tafte 
the fweets of peace !. What madnefs then by fin to rife in 
rebellion againft Heaven, and maintain a war againffc 
God, to run on the thick bofTes of his buckler, and defy 
Omnipotence himfelf, who can crum worlds with a 
frown, and punifii the mod ilubborn offenders ! 

How r pleafant for the man that has been often in danger 
and death, who has long heard the found of the- trumpet, 
the alarm of war, who has been covered with wounds 

and 



I08 THE TRAVELLER. 

and blood, and been daily befet by cruel blood-thirfty 
foes, to dwell in peace, and walk at fafety, to heighten 
his prefent happinefs by the remembrance of his paft dan- 
ger, affured that he fhall never more be in a Hate of war, 
but fpend his days in peace and quiet. Even fo, the foul 
that has been often in danger from fpiritual death, has 
long heard the found of Sinai's trumpets, the curfes of 
the fiery law, and war denounced from Jehovah's throne, 
has not only been fore buffeted and wounded, but ac- 
counted itfelf free among the dead, being daily befet by 
fin^and its outbreakings, Satan and his temptations \ how 
fweet for fuch a foul to be filled with peace and joy in 
believing, to have the intimation of pardoned fin, and 
acceptance through the Bejoved ) and, inflead of florins 
and tempefts from Sinai, to have the blefling out of 
Zion *, in a word, to have the full affurance of unchange- 
able love, and endlefs felicity, and that, in a little, all 
the enemies of his falvation, as they are now chained, fo 
{hall never vex him more, but he fhall fing the riches 
of grace, and the righteoufnefs of Jefus, world without 
end. 



MEDITATION LL 

THE NOBLE PRINCIPLE. 

Spithead, July 19. 115 S, 
Now I am diftant from all my religious acquaintance 
and civilized friends, who might be a check upon me \ 
and, what is worfe, I am oat of the church, therefore 
out of the reach of her difcipline ; but what is worft of 
all, I am where religion is a firanger, and is voted to 

have 



THE TRAVELLER. 1 G£ 

have no intereft on the element of water. Here it is fo- 
cial to be wicked, and profanity and impiety are fupport- 
ed at the expence of all fchsft is facred or valuable. 
Here fhame is laid afide, brazen impudence is worn on 
every brow, and he that departs from iniquity be- 
comes a prey to ridicule and feoff, Yet, for all this, how 
can I commit wickednefs, and fin againft God t Shall 
I not improve this opportunity, put into my hand, to 
witnefs for religion againft all their vilenefs, and to 
ftrike a terror into the moft abandoned -, as there is no 
conference that {lumbers fo fecurely, but there are now 
and then clamours rifing within ? 

What thanks tome to be forGod among his faints, where 
for very fhame I dare not be againft him ? But furely it is 
commendable, when called in providence to be among 
thofe among whom Satan has his feat, not only to ab- 
ilaln from the fins in which they revel, but to oppofe f 
to reprove, to let my hatred of the vices which they ad- 
mire be known, and not to drop my teftimony againft: 
fin, though with finners I prevail nothing ; for though 
our diligence be not fuccefsful, our duty mud not be 
flackened. The finner miftakes the matter ; for he 
thinks he has liberty to -fin in one fituation more than in 
another : but it mightily aggravates his wickednefs, be- 
caufe he carries not the awe and belief of God's omni- 
prefence every where. Were he at home, no man more 
civil than he. But the eye of man prevails more with 
him than the ommfcience of God , for when he leaves his 
friends and native land, he leaves the fear of God alfo, 
(that is, the form of godlinefs, for he never knew the 
■power thereof), and rufhes into fin w 7 herever he goes. 
Like the ign6rr.it Syrians, he thmks that God is a 
God of the hills, but not of the vallies, a God of the 
land, but not of the fea) 2nd thus, when he cafts off men 

K by 



11$ THE TRAVELLER. 

by diftance, he fets God alfo at a diftance, and the di- 
vine law at defiance : but, to his endlefs remorfe, he (hall 
know that God feeth, not only under the whole heaven, 
but through the whole heart , and fiileth not only time, 
but eternity itfelf. 

As no grateful foul could injure a generous friend, though 
he could never know it ^ fo, for my part, I would not fin 
againft God, even fuppofmg that he could not know it. 
How mould I forget thy tender-mercies, thy love, thy com- 
paffion, thy kindnefs, and fupporting grace ! How (hould I 
iln againft thy holinefs, offend my belt, my never-failing 
friend, wound my conference, flay my foul, and trample 
on thy glory! Thou art ever in the heart that loves thee, and 
thou wilt bring them that willingly forget thee to a re- 
membrance of thy omniprefence by the down-pouring of 
thy dreadful wrath. If nothing but the eye of man be 
on the mind, it will make but fmall impreflion, and the 
impreflion will be quickly gone j but I can never hide 
sne from Heaven, nor conceal myfelf from my own 
confeience. 

Moreover, I am bound to be for God by many ties. O 
how (hall I honour him whom all dilhonour, and appear for 
him when all appear againft him! In the time that I may ap- 
pear alone for him,Iihould not lofe the oppoitunity which 
may never be put into my han-d again. How then fhould I 
love him whom the fons of men refufeto love ; and hate fin 
the more that men hate it fo little ! Surely my zeal ihofild 
be the warmer that men have loft all zeal for God and his 
glory. What can be more ungrateful thsn to fin againft 
that God that has fent his Son to fave me ? than to offend 
him who defends me every day, than to caft off his frav, 
who has fed me all my life long *, or join a multitude 
againft him, who, psffing by a multitude, has chofen 

me > 



THE TRAVELLER. IIZ 

me ? I fliould have an eye to bis glory, and his love 
mould be always before me ; his greatnefs fliould fill my 
mind with holy awe, and his goodnefs with gratitude 
and joy. But, ah ! worthlefs I, how (hall I hold up my 
face when I fall fo far (hort of my duty, and do fo 
little for him who has done fo much, who has done 
every thing for me ! 



MEDITATION til. 

COMPARISONS* 

July 20. 1758. 
To make my fituation more pleafant, in this meditav 
tlon let me run a companion between the fea-life, and 
the Chriftian life, which is properly called a warfare. 

1. Then, we embark all in one common caufe ; fo 
have all Christians one intereit. 

2. We leave our own country, our friends, and our 
native land j fo mufl every Chriftian, fo mud the church 
forget her father's boufe, and her own people. 

3. Sometimes we enter into his Majefty'i fervice 
againft the opinion and inclination of cur neareft friends; 
fo fometimes, in becoming difciples of Jefus, we mufl 
deny our reareir connections, and dearefl friends. 

4. We do not entangle curfelves with the nftairs of 
the land, as we belong to the fea ; fo muft the faint not 
entangle himfelf in the affairs of this life, that he may 
pleafe Him who hath chofen him to be a fpiritual foi- 
dier, 

K 2 f. We 



I 12 THE TRAVELLER. 

5. We are all maintained by the King j fo are all 
Chridians by the throne of Heaven/ 

6. We come here neither uncalled nor unwelcome, 
however unfit 5 fo none that come to Jefus mail ever be 
call out. 

7. Some are irnpreffed for the fervice of their king 
and country *, fo nothing lefs than almighty power can 
make the (inner fubmit to Jefus. 

8. We undergo a great change of life when we for- 
fake the land, and dwell on the ocean 5 but they (hare 
in a greater change, who are tranflated from darknefs 
Into light, from the power of Satan to the living Go*d. 

9. Our way of walking mud be changed, elfe we (hall 
catch many a fall on the deck \ fo Chridians mail not 
walk as other men, elfe they (hall not keep the path of 
life. 

10. Our food mud be changed, and adapted to our 
way of life 5 fo mull Chridians live as well as walk by 
faith, and feed on heavenly food. 

11. Our provlficns muit be of fuch a nature as t& 
keep long free of putrefaction, and anfwer in every cli- 
mate \ fo mud the faint feed on Jefus the bread of life, 
who can nourilh in every condition below. 

1 2. We mud forego our eafy life, and expedt to be 
-wafhed by the briny wave, and beaten by the ftorm 5 fo 
-Chridians mud not expecl to loll in the lap of pleafure 
In a world where they are to have tribulation and pain. 

13. We mud keep continual watch fore and aft the 
{hip, and the crew dare never all deep at once \ fo mud 
the Chridian watch continually, watch unto all prayer, 
and be ever on his guard. 

14. Our very dialeft didinguifhes us from the inha- 
bitants on land .; fo fliould the Chridian be known from 

the 



THE TRAVELLER. II J 

Xht men of the world, by his innocent, ufeful, edifying, 
and religious difcourfe, managed always with discretion. 

3 5, We have a difcipline peculiar to ourfelves, and 
pretty fevere j fo has the Chriftian church from her 
Lord a government and difcipline which none can alter 
or abrogate. 

16. We mud not expect to quit the tempeftuous ele- 
ment till the war be finiihed, and peace proclaimed j fo 
the Chriftian needs not expect to be difengaged from, 
trouble and turmoil till the fpiritual war is ended, and 
eternal peace brought in. 

17. We mufl always be ready to engage the enemy, 
as we know not when w T e may meet, and where we mull 
fight •, fo the Chriftian, being in the midft of his enemies, 
muft always be ready for the battle. 

18. We are provided with arms and ammunition for 
the day of battle at the king's coil 5 fo is every faint with 
the whole armour of God. 

19. Sometimes an engagement at fea is made more 
dreadful by the darknefs of the night ; fo fometimes, in 
the darkuefs of defertion, the faint is furrounded with all 
his cruel foes. 

20. We muft fight before we get the viclory ; fo mull 
the Chriilian conquer ere he obtain the crown. 

21. We are provided with men of the healing art to 
give affillance to the wounded and difeafed ; fo have the 
faints a tender-hearted Ph)fkian, who binds up the bro- 
ken heart, cures the painful wound, and pours in the 
healing balm. 

22. We have a fteward who gives us our provilions 
daily, and not all at once, yet we have no uneafinefs, 
knowing there is plenty under his hand, and that he has 
orders net to let us flarve y.fq the faints ; either in re r pecl 

K 3 of 



%l4 TEE TRAVELLER. 

of fpiritual proviiion, or daily bread, need never be dif- 
quieted for futurity, fince Jefus is appointed of the Fa- 
ther a Jfteward to all the children of God, fince ail the 
fulnefs of the Godhead is treafured up in him for their 
fupply, and fince, to their unfpeakable profit, all their 
proviiion, of one or other kind, is not given to thern at 
once, but kept in his hand. 

23. We haveperfons among us of all nations, Englifh, 
Scots, Irifh, Dutch, Swedes, Danes, French, Spaniards, 
Germans, Svvifs, Italians, Ruffians, Indians, &c. of all 
difpofitions, of all employments, and of all ages '> fo the 
Catholic church is ccmpofed of ail nations, people, and 
languages, and of young and old. 

24. We are appareled in a different manner from the 
men on land \ fo Chrifiians are covered, both with the 
juftify'ng righteoufnefs of ChrirT, and with the righ- 
teoufnefs of faints. 

25. Officers, men, boys, are allowed the fame quan- 
tity of piovinons in the fame time \_ fo the fulnefs of the 
covenant, the fatnefs of God's houfe, is alike lt€< 1 all 
the members of Chvift. 

26. We have feveral officers here, without whom w T e 
could not be governed \ fo in the church there are offi- 
cers for the government of the whole body. 

27. We are in the midft of dangers, and yet are pre-' 
ferved j h the church, like a lily among thorns, grows^ 
and is net choaked ) is a buffi burning, but not con- 
fumed •, fometimes perfecuted of men, but never forfa- 
ken of God. 

28. In a voyage, or on a cruize, we are cut off from all. 
the world, and have no communication with any, fo the 
church and people of God (hall dwell alone, not mingle 
with the people, nor be reckoned among the nations. 

25* Every 



THE TRAVELLER. IIJ 

29. Every lofs we fuftain in an engagement is borne 
by government j but when we conquer, we divide the 
fpoil, and fhare the prize-money among us , fo God fup- 
ports his people in their fpiritual warfare,, makes up 
every lofs, enriches them with thefpoils of their ene- 
mies, and at la ft puts palms in their hands, and crowns 
on their heads. 

30. When the war is ended, and peace reftored, we re- 
tire with all our acquisitions, to receive the congratula- 
tions of our friends, and enjoy ourfelves in peace and tran- 
quillity as long as we fnall live j even fo, at death we 
trample on our laft enemy, quit the field with triumph, 
go to the blefled fociety of faints and angels, receive a 
crown of immortal glory, and are happy beyond expref- 
lion, beyond conception, in the enjoyment of God an$ 
the Lamb for evermore. 



MEDITATION LIII. 

,PUR SORROW FOR SIN TOO CONTRACTED* 

Jidy 22. 175S. 
Now to my grief I am among tinners •, and it corrodes 
my fpirits that they with whom I am concerned in one 
verTel and in one intereft ftiould fo fin againft God» 
Though there were no wickednefs committed in this 
{hip, yet how does it prevail through the whole Bri- 
tilh fleets with which I am connected \ but though I 
were out of the navy, yet I am ftill concerned with Bri- 
tain j or though out of Britain^ I am ftiil in the world, 

and 



%l6 THE TRAVELLER. 

and therefore concerned with the whole inhabitants 
thereof. Now, I fee my forrow for fin is not fo univer- 
fai as it ought . to ■ be 5 . for while I lament great fins, 
grofs abominations, and deteftable crimes, I am apt to 
overlook mental con option, and natural depravity, which 
is the fpring of all. Again, it. is too contracted, in that 
1 confine my grief to the wretches that are daily in my 
view y for though the crew here were all faints, yet how, 
through the whole fleet, have officers and men all cor- 
rupted their way ! or though the whole fleet were inno- 
cent, yet how through Britain, by her armies, and men 
of all ranks, is the divine law broken with impunity ! 
But though Britain were as righteous as Ifrael in their 
pur-eft times, yet what wkkednefs againft the majefty of 
Heaven is committed through the world abroad ! 

O contracted forrow ! to grieve for nothing but what 
I fee , as if the glory of God were not alike dear to him 
in all places ; or as if he were not offended at u*n on 
«very fhore, in every land, and in every heart! !..__ 'igh 
v;hat I fee and hear defer ves my fir ft tears, yet I mould 
continue the flood, becaufe iniquity overflows ^the uni- 
verfe, becaufe the whole world lies in iniquity, and the 
earth groaneth under the inhabitants thereof. Though 
the enemies of God may not be always in my fight as 
now fome of them are, yet they are always in the fight 
of Heaven ; finning againft him who is every where pre- 
fent : my forrow therefore mould continually be before 
me, and the fhame of my face ever cover me ; and my 
unremitting requeft fhould be, and fhall be, that the 
knowledge of the Lord may fill the earth, as the waters 
cover the fea. 

MEDI- 



THE TRAVELLER. I tf 



MEDITATION LIV. 



PRISONERS. 



St Helens, July 29. 1758. 
This is a common affliction in war, that whoever con- 
quer at lail, in the mean time many on both fides lofe 
their life, or fuller by imprifonment, as thefe poor men, 
who carry the effects of their long confinement, and 
fhcrt allowance, in their countenance. Their meagre 
locks tell they have not been upon the bounty of their 
own fovereign, under whofe colours they fought. But 
now, when again poffeifed of liberty, they betake not 
themfelves to a flothful, indolent, and eafy life, but, 
with redoubled ardour, fly again to arms, eager to be 
revenged on their enemies, and take them prifoners 
whofe prifoners they were. Even fo the foldier, that in 
the Chriftian warfare (and all his life is one campaign) 
is taken captive by Satan, is caft down by fome tempta- 
tion, and overcome by fome luft } who is imprifoned in 
carnality, whofe ircn gate is deadnefs, and its brazen 
bolt defpair, and the chains and fetters which bind the 
prifoners are infenfibility, and impenitence of heart \ 
while Satan, to keep all fecure, Rands fentry himfelf ^ 
even fo_, when fuch an one is recovered from his dead- 
nefs, is reftored to liberty, by him who takes the prey 
from the terrible j and delivers the lawful captive, how 
does his holy indignation rife againft fin, and that {in 
efpecially which had overcome him ! As he had gone 
backward, now 7 he runs in the way of righteoufnefs, and 
ftudies that his path may be like the mining light, that 

fhineth 



US THE TRAVELLER,. 

Ihineth more and more unto the perfect day. None has 
a greater hatred of fin than he, a greater zeal for the 
glory of God, a greater jealoufy over himfelf, and 
greater companion for thofe that groan under the af- 
faults of Satan, and fweliings of fin. His jail-difeafe (a 
death on the whole foul) is removed, and being fed and 
feafted with the bread of life, he grows flrong as David, 
for the war, as an -angel of God. Not a wound of all 
thofe which he received when taken captive, but is 
healed by the balm of Gilead which is poured in by 
the Phyiician of fouls. And he is filled with joy by 
the fweet affurance, that none of all the armies of God 
{hall die in prifon, but with full triumph, and loud ho* 
fannah, (hall at lafl enter the realms of everlafting day. 



MEDITATION LV. 

A SKIP FALLING FOUL OF ANOTHER. 

Under sail from Cherbourg. 
How fweet is life, for which a man will quit with his 
all ! When tbefe two mips^ which mine anxious eyes 
beheld, fell foul of one another, from the leffer veStl^ 
which {ctmed in greater! danger, how did every one fly, 
and never look behind ! One comes out half naked, but 
finds no cold \ another, in getting into the other fhip, 
catches a bruife or a wound, but feels no pain till af- 
terwards. I fee, then, that man needs no admonition 
to prefer ve his temporal life, or avoid bodily clanger \ 
but how do they fleep on in fin till awaked in everlait- 
vi% agonies! 

" Fly 



THE TRAVELLER, Il£ 

" Fly from the wrath to come," is the divine admo- 
nition to all j but a raging Tea, and a roaring tempeft, 
a finking veffel, and a fwelling wave, are more prevalent 
with men to attempt their efcape, than all the terrors of 
the Lord, the profpecl of future wrath and eternal tor- 
ment. But fome may be difcouraged to effay reforma- 
tion, or begin to amend, becaufe they have fo long fol- 
lowed the ways of fin \ yet this, inftead of deterring them 
from, mould determine them to make their laft efforts to 
efcape. Tell the affrighted crew, that becaufe they are 
in danger, they muft dwell in danger fedately, and let 
themfelves drown without disturbance, iince it feems to 
be their fate. Such an advice would ieem the language 
of a madman, an advice they never will accept of. I hey 
will make the more hade the greater their danger, and 
the greater fpeed to deliver themfelves the nearer they 
feem to defrruclion \ yea, they will attempt to make their 
efcape, though they mould perifh in the attempt. They 
will rather be in motion, than fit Hill and perifh. O 
that men, the worfl of men, would follow their exam- 
ple ! for if they abide in their fins they perifh, and 
though they mifgive in their attempts to efcape, (but 
when does this happen ?), they can but perifh. 

Again, a man fait afieep could not have been concern- 
ed in all the confufion thefe men were in, but ihould 
have funk like a ilone in the mighty waters. But all 
that are awake fee their danger, and endeavour to ac- 
complifh their efcape. So thofe that are in a natural 
itate are fpiritually afieep, and fee no danger till they 
plunge into the flames of hell : but the foul that is awake 
to eternity, fees his danger, and flies from the wrath to 
come ) and there is as great difference between a man in 



120 THE TRAVELLER. 

a renewed and unrenewed ilate, as between a man fail 
afleep and broad awake. 

Moreover, we fee that thefe men minded nothing but 
life, left all behind them, even their moil precious 
things, and made their efcape. So, when a foul feeks to 
be found in Chrift, not having his own righteoufnefs, he 
counts all things but lofs and dung, even the things he 
had counted gain before, for the excellency of the know- 
ledge of Chrift Jefus his Lord. He fets his eye on the 
unfeen world, and fecures his inteieil there. Looking 
on the prefent world as a mattered veflel that cannot 
long carry him fafe, but mull link him at laft, he fees 
that it is his higheft wifdom to get out of the leaky vef- 
felj into the fafe ark of the covenant, that frill keeps 
above the fwelling floods. And finally, he fets his af- 
fections on heavenly things, and anticipates a little of 
that joy and ferenity which (hall take place in the world 
to come, when florms and tempeils ceafe. 



MEDITATION LVI. 

WAR. 

Under sail, August 18. 1758. 
How often have we caufe to cry out of the cruelty of 
tnen ! Mankind, allied to one another by blood, and 
human re a ion, yet have more cunning to deftroy each 
other than all the beads of the foreft. No fooner were 
thefe poor innocents as to perfonal prejudice (who never 
met before, and only meet now that they may meet no 
more) within the reach of mutual deftruflion, but they 

fall 



THE TRAVELLER. 121 

fall to work, and deprive each other of their life, and 
hands unknown fend fouls into the world unfeen. Can- 
non roar like the deftruftive thunders, and all the in* - 
flruments of war are fet a-founding terror and difmay. 
Pity, that character of Heaven, knows no egrefs from the 
human bread, till the enemy are cut off, or yield prifoners 
to the victor. How many fouls, by the unfheathed and 
naked fword, are fent naked into the world of fpirits ! 
Unprepared for their laft moments, they have not a quiet 
moment at laft to prepare for death, but are hurried 
into their laft, unalterable ftate at once, with a few melt- 
ing groans. What a piteous fight is the field of battle ! 
The very ground is plowed with the irrefiftible cannon- 
balls j or if the battle borders on a wood, the trees arc 
, barked with continual firing, and the neighbouring 
hills echo with the noife, the confuted noife of war, 
while the thriekings and groanings of the deadly wound- 
ed add to the horrors of the day. Such are the con- 
tents of courts, fuch the ambition of kings, who purchafe 
elbow-room to their fceptres, at the expence of their fub* 
jects lives. 

But if the war of mortals be fo terrible to one another, 
what mufl that day be when God fhall rife up to the 
prey, to rid him of his enemies, and eafe him of his ad- 
verfanes >? when his angry countenance (hall kindle the 
heavens above, and fet the earth on fire beneath ? when 
the thunders of his right hand (hall fill hell with univer- 
fal trembling 3 and his flaming throne that is rolled on 
wheels of fire, and whence a fiery nream iffues, fhall 
affrighten the human race, being fummoned to make 
their laft appearance before the judgement- feat ? No 
pity, no companion then, no mercy, no fcrgi venefs there ! 
If men are cut off by the weapons of war, in the hand of 

L frail 



122 THE TRAVELLER. 

frail mortals, how muft they perifh under the ftroke of 
Omnipotence, which fhall reach to the foul in all her 
powers ? when his almighty hand takes hold of, and 
whets the glittering fword, and fwears he lives for ever, 
to puniih his enemies for ever ? 

O that men were wife, and would confider their latter 
end } would throw down the weapons of their rebellion, 
and fight under the Captain of falvation ! then mould 
they be happy in war and in peace j in this, and in the 
world to come. 



MEDITATION LV1L 

UNFORTUNATE RETREAT *. 

St Cas i Sept. 12. 175S. 
Ah, mournful day ! what moving lights, what melt- 
ing founds have I feen and heard by fea and land this 
day ! My heart bleeds for the fons of war, who boldly 
Hied their blood* For though their fcanty number was 
overpowered by the enemy, who poured in frelh fup* 
plies, yet their courage was confpicuous to the lair. 
Ah, doleful event of one fatal day ! Many, gay and chear* 
ful in the morning, lay gafping at noon, and are clay- 
cold by the evening twilight ! My heart-ftiings are 

pierced 

* Our forces having made a defcent on the coaft of France, the 
enemy afiembled their forces, before whom our little army re- 
treated, to re-embark ; but when the greater part was carried 
aboard the tranfports by the fiat-bottomed boats, the enemy came 
down, and killed and made prifoners about 1400. The aftion 
1 ailed about two hours, the frigates and bomb-ketches afMed the 
land-forces alfo. 



THE TRAVELLER, I 23 

pierced with pain, while I remember the anguifli of 
their laft moments : they fall, but none to lift them up; 
they groan, but no kindly fvmpathifer j they die, and 
there is no tender-hearted mourner, none to deplore 
them. The little army is broken by iuperior numbers, 
and take to flight \ but whither can they rly ? A victo- 
rious enemy is before, rocks on every iide, and a raging 
fea behind > fome even adventure into the water, and 
are (hot while wading for life, or perifh in the w T aves ! 

How vain the confidence of man ! how empty the boaft 
of invincible courage ! Let men remember that God 
gives the victory, and that at his frown heroes fall, and 
armies fly. 

Methinks I fee the yet more awful, univerfal, and con- 
ciuiive day, when the heavens (hall open in tremendous 
thunders, when the dreadful trumpet, with louder founds 
than erer echoed from the martial plains, (hall raife the 
deeping duft, and the tremendous Judge defcend in flam- 
ing vengeance on his £ery throne^ before whom the nations 
ihall be alTembled, and by whom the final fentence palled* 
This is the deciflon that (hall concern the victors and 
the vanquifhed * ? the furvivers and the (lain j fovereigns 
and their fubjecls 3 yea, the whole world and me. 



MEDITATION LVIII. 

THE NATURAL MAN INSENSIBLE OF MERCY. 

Portsmouth Harbour, Nov, 1. 1758. 
Did men look but a little towards God, and into 
themfelves, it would be their wifdcm : but true wifdom 
L 2 can 



2 24 ?KE TRAVELLER. 

can never mine where faving grace does not dwell. 
There are feme men faved from dangers, the relation of 
which mail aitonifh. They are landing monuments of 
lingular mercy, when numbers were dropping down 
around them, when inftruments.of death were rattling 
thick about them, like the hail from the thunder-cloud, 
2nd bullets falling like drops of rain, and yet they pre- 
ferred fafe among the gafping crowd. And there are - 
others who have ftill a more narrow efcape, while the 
bullet breaks a bone to them, which might have cut the 
thread of their life j wounds an extremity, which might 
have pierced the heart and diilodged the foul. For a 
month or iix weeks they have a kindly remembrance of 
their lingular prefervation and Heaven's peculiar mercy. 
But, O chilling thought ! how foon do thefe very per-- 
fons forget their great deliverer, fhew not the leaf! gra- 
titude to God, but return to fin, and proceed from evil 
to worfe ! Had any perfon been a mean of their prefer- 
vation, they had difplayed fo much of the gentleman as 
never to forget it \ but it was God, and they difplay fo 
much of the (inner, the abandoned finner, as never to 
remember it, never to acknowledge it ! They purfue 
their finful practices, as if their life had at firft been given, 
and preferved when in danger, for no other purpofe. Thefe 
men are the enemies of God \ they have been hungry, 
and he has given them bread to eat ; they have been 
thirfty, and he has given them water to drink J they 
have been in difeafe, and he has recovered them } in 
u .nger, and he has preferved them ) therefore, if they 
continue ftill his enemies, he will heap coals of fire on 
their head, while his kindnefs (hall be renowned for ever, 
Where mercies have no effect, judgements (hall without 
fail have mod terrible effect at laft. Since I am a child 

of 



THE TRAVELLER. , I2j 

of many mercies, may gratitude write them, in inde* 
lible characters, on the table of my heart ! 



MEDITATION LIX, 

THE WORD OF GOD IRRESISTIBLE. 

Nov. 3, 175S. 
O how glorious and irrefiftible is the word of grace * 
ivhen it comes accompanied with divine power ! a word 
that turns a finner from his wickednefs to God. Fire and 
fword cannot convert j war and {hip wreck cannot re- 
claim ; dangers and deliverance cannot reform j mercies 
and judgements cannot change the man j but one verfe 
in the holy fcriptures, a fentence or paragraph in a 
religious treatife, or an expreflion in a lermon, backed 
with the divine blefling, and fent home by the Spirit of 
God, can prick to the very heart, overpower the whole 
foul, and open his eyes towards God, himfelf, and eterni- 
ty \ towards God, to fee his holinefs and indignation 
againft fin 5 towards himfelf, to fee his defperate and de- 
plorable ft ate in fuch a gulph of impurity and raging 
enmity againft God \ towards eternity, to fee his vait 
concerns and interefts there, and that they are of another 
kind than he dreamed of. Once he thought of nothing 
but aiTemblies, balls, and the theatre \ of revellings and 
parties of pleafure j of knowing and being known 3 of 
pofts, preferment, and commiffions from his prince \ of 
grand appearance, noble equipage, fplendid retinue, and 
high-founding titles. But now he fees that judgement 
awaits all his actions, eternity treads on the heels of 
X. 3 time, 



Il6 THE TRAVELLER* 

time, and that there is a world to come* Thefe things 
call out the vain and trifling phantoms that engroffed 
ail his attention before, and give him juft and proper 
ideas of every thing around. And this great and won- 
derful change, which makes him 2ccount every thing 
lofs, dung and drols, in comparifon of the excellency of 
the knowledge of Chrift and the unfeen world, is effe&ed 
by a very word, that the excellency of the power may 
be feen to be of God ^ while others hear thoufands of 
fuch words, and continue in impenitency. 

Though a man were thrown into hell, and faw and 
fuffered all the torments of the damned, for years and 
ages, and brought up again to the land of the living, ta 
the place of hope, yet all would be to no purpofe, for 
without the bleHing of the Moil High on the means of 
grace, he would not accept of falvation, nor receive the 
Saviour by believing on his name ; and this is evident 
in thofe who have a foretafte of the terrors of hell, by 
the horrors of an awakened conference, which, inftead of 
bringing them nearer to, drives them farther from God,, 
and plunges them into the tremendous deeps of defpair* 
Though the words of peace may be more glorious, 
from mount Zion to thofe that have heard the threaten- 
ings of mount Sinai, and though the thunderings of the 
law may precede to prepare his Way \ yet frill God 
comes to a fcul in the Hill fmall voice of the gofpeL 
Then happy they that know the joyful found, for faith 
comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God* 
JBy what experience mall they fupport their plea, wha 
are for free <wil/ 9 and a kind of Jelf- agency in the w T ork of 
conversion, when ive fee thoufands and ten thoufandss 
periih, although it is natural for all men to wifti to be 
happy ! The Arminian will fay> becaufe they will not* 

therefore 



THE TRAVELLER. I27 

therefore they are not happy ; but fays the fcripture, " No 
man can come to me, except the Father, whkh hath feni 
me, draw him." Now, whether I am to believe the As* 
minian or God, let all the world judge. 



MEDITATION LX. 

DOCKING SHIPS. 

Nov. 4. I75&, 
It is requiiite at certain times to bring fhips into th$ 
dock, that they may be cleaned, chaulked, and fitted out 
for fea again. This is indeed attended with trouble,, 
as guns, carriages, ihot, ftores, proviiions, and ballaft y 
muft be taken out, that the (hip may eaiily be got into- 
dock, and a proper infpeciicn made into thofe places 
that need repair j and that itores, provifions, and everj 
thing needful, may be completed, for a cruife or a 
voyage. 

Then how much more necefTity have Chriflians, who 
fleer on a more ternpeituous fea than the w T atery ele- 
ment, to infpecl and try themfelves \ For fuch fe- 
rious and folemn work, they ihould fet a day apart for 
prayer and examination ; when, that they may know theiat 
Situation, they mould look into their heart and inclina* 
tion, their life and eonverfation, their thoughts, the 
ends and motives of all their actions. Affifted by the 
light of revelation, they ihould fee, and comparing them- 
felves with the rule of the word, they ihould underftand 
ivhat is wrong, what is wanting ' 7 what is decayed, and 
Yrhat is defective. They ought to feaxch into the Hate 

of 



128 THE TRAVELLER. 

of their foul, and the condition of their graces ) and alfo 
fee what fins have been moft predominant in them. 
Surely thofe who are call into wicked company, and 
are daily hearing and feeing nn, have much to mourn 
over ) for fach an exercife is highly requifite in all the 
candidates for glory. They are alfo, from the royal 
magazine of grace, which, for the faints, is treafured up 
in the Son of God, to take in pro virions of every kind, 
and all forts of warlike flores, fuch as the fword of the 
Spirit, the helmet of falvation, the fhield of faith, the 
anchor of hope, and the compafs of truth $ as they mufl 
£leer over roaring oceans, ftruggle through florins and 
tempefts, and fight their paifage all along through foes, 
and thus, fpiritually refitted, proceed in their voyage to 
Ixnmanuei's land. 



MEDITATION LXI. 

ON GOING INTO HARBOUR. 

Nov* 5. 1758. 

One mould think that w T hen the tempefls and the 
dangers of the fea are over, all were fafe 5 and that iri 
fight of land we mould laugh at ihipwreck ; yet the 
lofs of nations, and the experience of thoufands, atteft, 
that on coafts more ihips are loll than at fea ) and fo the 
Government has prudently appointed pilots to bring in 
his Majefty's ihips, that they may be in no danger in 
coming into harbour. 

Now, what may this mind us of, but that the faints, 
and fuch as look for an happy anchoring in the port cf 

b% 



THE TRAVELLER. I2£ 

blifc, mould be very careful how they fleer the laft part 
of their long and momentous voyage ; how they enter 
the harbour of death, where their ihip is to be laid up, 
not for a winter, but for ever. They are to beware that 
they do not flick on the fands of carnal fecurity *, or run 
into the (hallow waters of lukewarm indirTerency j or be 
blown on the rocks of falfe confidence, by the high 
winds of fpiritual delunon. A miHake here may oc- 
cafion damage, but, though it coil expences, may be 
mended; but among men a mirrake at death is fatal, and 
of the laft confequence, becaufe it can never be mend- 
ed afterwards. Again, the tide is a mighty affirmant in 
our getting into harbour here : but to dying mortals the 
Jordan of death is a terrible river, which overflows all 
its banks ; and it is the fear of diffolution that keeps 
ibme all their lifetime fubjecl to bondage ; yea, and 
by this current thoufands and ten thousands are hurried 
into the horrid pit of perdition. But in a furpriiing man- 
ner the faints go ever dry ihed j for the High Prieif , who 
bears the ark of the everlafting covenant, and all the rich 
grace and precious promifes that it contains, having that 
river to wade through which runneth in the way of 
all living, once did fo, with the fcles of his feet, 
when he was found in fafhion as a man, and humbled 
himielf, and became obedient unto death, even the death 
of the crois, fo that it remains ilill cut in two to the 
faints, even while it overflows all its banks to the wicked* 
The more we advance into the harbour, we are the 
more out of danger from the ftcrms and tempefts that 
fwept along the ruffied ocean. But it is otherwife with 
the dying faint \ Satan does all he can to cloud his evi- 
dences, to deaden his faith, to blacken his infirmities, to 
make him doubt bis wa cendition, to nickname his 

graces^ 



33° THE TRAVELLER. 

graces, to flay his confidence, to draw him from Chnft, 
and drive him into defpair, anxious to make a wreck f 
him even in fight of Immanuel's ihore 7 yet all the powers 
of hell (hall never pluck the leaft of Chrift's little ones 
out of his hand. But how watchful mould we be, and 
how careful to prepare for thefe critical moments ! for 
we are like a (hip that has traded for a long time in the 
Eaft Jndies, and comes home with all her treafures ; fo 
our all, our everlafting all, is loft if we founder at our 
laft. However, our fafety lies in this alone, that he whofe 
prefence calms the raging fea, and rending winds, (hall 
be our pilot to the harbour of the better country, to 
the port of glory,. 



MEDITATION LXII. 

ON TAKING IN LARGE PROVISIONS, 

Portland Roads 9 Dec. 15. 1755% 

Surely the children of this world are wiier in their 
generation than the children of light \ for at land every 
man provides what he can againft winter y and at *ea 
we take in large ftore of all things, when we are to 
make a long voyage. Now, my foal, what haft thou laid 
up for eternity r This awful, this interfiling voyage, 
thou muft make ; it is already begun, and thou (halt 
never tread on the earth again, never more return to 
time after death y and if thou carried not fomething with 
thee, thou muft fuller irreparable lofs for ever, as there is 
no oil to be bought (this the foolifh virgins fhall find) in 
vfhe other world ) no grace to be found, nor pardon to 

be 



THE TRAVELLER. l$t 

be expected (this all impenitent Tinners fhall experience) 
on the other fide of the grave. Death cuts down the 
tree as it ftands, which falls as it grows, and as it falls 
muft lie for ever. Why then, O blinded Papifts ! prayers 
and maffes for the dead ? To as good purpofe apply me- 
dicines to dead bodies to bring them to life again, as ufe 
prayers for departed fouls to bring them to falvation, 
It is now that we muft improve for eternity, where our 
vaft and higheft concerns lie. 

If this (hip (hould go out to cruife for three months 
in the main ocean without bread or beer, wood or water, 
or any other provifions, would not all concerned in her 
be chargeable with confummate folly, as the whole crew 
muft inevitably perifh with hunger ? but of greater mad- 
nefs am rpoffeiTed, if my foul go out into the boundlefs 
ocean of eternity without an intereft in Chrift, who is 
the tree of life that feeds the higher houfe, and river of 
life that waters all the paradife of God. 

According to the length of our voyage muft be the 
quantity of provilions taken aboard j and indeed nothing 
lefs than a whole God, in all his fulnefs and perfections, 
an all-fufficient Saviour, in all his ofRces and relations, and 
the Holy Ghoft, in all his divine influences and confola- 
tions, can be a proper provifion for my foul through a 
whole eternity. 



MEDITATION LXIII. 

COMFORT AND TERROR IN ONE CONSIDERATION, 

Portland Roads- y Dec. 19. 1758. 

Wkfn the affairs of war, and protection of our trade, 
call for a change of climates, and hurry us from the 

chilling 



t$2 THE TRAVELLER. 

chilling North to the burning South, it may afford com- 
fort to the pious foul to reflect, that the God on whom 
he built his hopes here, is alfo there to anfwer all the 
expectations of his faith. But it may flrike terror into 
the profligate wretch, to think that the God againft 
whom he finned here, is alfo there to punifh his iniquity. 
Then I fee that the omniprefence of God may be a pa- 
nacea, an univerfal cure, to the anxiety of my foul every 
where \ for God may call his own people from their 
own home, their friends, their country, but he will never 
caft them from his protection, his prefence, himfelf. 
Then, though I leave my friends and acquaintance, and 
go to the remoter!; Indies, or moft diftant parts of the 
world, ftill the fame God that here manifefts himfelf fo 
gracious and fo kind, is the fame God that governs un- 
der the whole heaven, and there can manifest: himfelf in 
his wonted tender mercy, and former loving-kindnefs. 
Whither can I go from him who is every where ? this 
is my comfort. And whither wilt thou, O finner ! fly 
from him who is every where ? let this be thy terror. 
For the God that dwells between the cherubims of a 
gofpel-difpenfation, fits alfo on the floods ; and he that 
rules in Jacob, rules alfo unto the ends of the earth. 
Moreover, when I leave this world to go into the world 
unknown, then the fame God (for he inhabits eternity, 
who meafures the moments of my time) whom I ferved 
here, (hall receive me there. This is the excellency of 
the Chriilian religion, that we, as it were, begin eterni- 
ty in time, and join in our adorations with the fons of 
day, with the hods of heaven. Deluded nations of old 
trufted in god?, that could not go, but muft needs be 
borne by their demented votaries ) but the true God, who 
is an everlailing King, has been the God of his chofen 

people 



THE TRAVELLER. I 33 

people In all places of the world, and in all ages, yea* 
before the world began ; hence fays Mofes, 4C Thou hail 
been our dwelling- placein allgenerations, before thouhadil 
brought forth the mountains j" and when time is gone, 
and ages finifhed, he will be their dwelling-place, who is 
from everlafting to everlafting God. Then happy I, if 
I have an abiding relation, and fure intereft in him who 
is every where prefent, as to his effence ; and inhabits 
eternity, as to his duration. Time pail and to come 
only refpecls us> for with God it ever was, is, and will 
be one eternal now. 

Every way I look there is fafety : Dwell I at home, he 
is there ^ go I abroad, he is there $ live I in this world, 
he holds it in his hand, and fees under the whole heaven ; 
die I, and go out of the world, he is there filling all, and 
in all. Now, O firmer ! ftand ftill, and fee thy mifery. 
Thou finneft againft God, and how {halt thou efcape I 
Thou mayeft injure a fellow-creature, and, by going into 
fome diftsnt part of the world, elude law, and laugh at 
juftice , and if thou dieft, thou art out of the reach of 
the purfuer here to all intents and purpofes J but go 
where thou wilt, thou art ftill in his power, {till in his 
prefence, whom thou haft offended. Then mind, that 
he whom thou haft made thine enemy all thy life long, 
will at laft be thy judge, and fupreme tormentor, whofe 
breath ihall kindle the burning ftream. Sinners and 
faints may have common comforts, and common croffes, 
but one thought on eternity fpreads horror through the 
foul of the -one, while it diffufes confolatlon in the breaft 
of the other, 



M MfcDI* 



*34 THE TRAVELLER* 

MEDITATION LXIV. 

€N BEING IN HOT CLIMATES IN A FEW DAYS. 

Under sail for Gibraltar, Feb. 2. 1759. 
How few days failing from the temperate zone, can chill 
us in the freezing north, or fcorch us in the burning 
fouth ! Of the laft we had experience, while in clement 
winter receded from the plowing keel, and fmiling fum- 
mer approached the expanded fail ! This (hort and fud- 
den change fuggefts an interefting thought to my mind j 
that at the hour of death, in a (horter time than this, the 
foul (hall either be placed in that degree of diftance 
from God where eternal winter blows terrible, with all 
the angry florms and tempefls of vindictive wrath ; or 
r ni3y I ufe the expreffion ?) under the very line of union 
and communion with the Moft High, where the Sun of 
righteoufnefs mail {nine from his cloudlefs meridian, and 
pour down affimilating glory in every beam. This ftu- 
pendous thought I cannot, I dare not purfue, but, fall- 
ing off in iiience, give way to deep meditation.—— 



MEDITATION LXV. 

AN HIGH WIND PREFERABLE TO A CALM, 

Under >sail, Feb, 15. 1759. 

Among the wonders of navigation this is one, that 
through oppofmg waves which dam on every fide, and amidft 

winds 



THE TRAVELLER. I$j 

winds fo ftrong that they feem rather a tempeft than a 
moderate gale, the ihip mould purfue her voyage with 
more expedition, and reach her port fooner, than in a pro- 
found calm. Indeed he that nev^r had his foot* on fait 
water before, and adventures only on the glaffy furface 
to take his pleafure, will blefs the ferenky, and con- 
gratulate the calm - y but the fpirited failor who minds his 
bufmefs, and has other climes in view, will rather wifn 
a brifk. gale to waft him to the dill ant more, than to roll 
about in a dead calm till his veffel be eaten with worms, 
or grow rotten in the water, and peri fa-. 

Even fo, Chriilian, it fares with thee. Believe it, ths 
beft weather does not make the beft voyage heavenward. 
It is better for thee to proceed on thy courfe through the 
rolling waves of affii&ioii, attended by the ruffling winds 
of adverfity, than to be becalmed by affluence, eaie, and 
profperity. The one, through feeming difficulty and 
threatened danger, (hall at lad let thee arrive at thy defired 
haven, while the other detains thee to thy eternal ruin. 
God, that fits as king on the fwelling flood, rules alfo all 
trie afflictions of his people Though fometimes they 
complain, " All thy waves and thy billows are gone over 
me," yet not one can attack them, but by his permiffion, 
nor fwell beyond the given bounds. Covenant mercy 
li-is eftablifhed the kind decree, " Hitherto fnalt 
thou come, but no further, and here mall thy perplexing 
waves be flayed." Why then mould the Chrifiian mariner 
on the flood of time, cry out fo againft the boiilercus 
wind, afflictive wave, and foaming billow, which haften 
the out-bound fail to the pacific ihore r Have not fome, 
by the thorny crofs, been ftartled out of their delufive 
dreams, and awakened to the concerns of a world to 
come r by the lofs of a child, found the Son of God ? 

M 2 and 



I<6 IKE TRAVELLER. 



and by the death of an earthly father, been brought into 
iubjedion to the Father of fpirits, and fo made to live ? 
And have not fame, while unjufrly deprived of a fmall 
part, and petty inheritance in this world, been made to 
look out for an inheritance in the better country, an 
houfe not made with hands, eternal in the heavens ? To 
fay no more, will not the experience of the fain' s agree 
in this, that he knows their fouls in adverfky \ and that 
while their outward man feemeth to decay through the 
ladies of daily afrlidion, their inward man is renewed 
day by day, h that in the year of drought their foul is 
as a watered garden ? 



MEDITATION LXVI. 

ON SAILING NEAR DIFFERENT NATIONS. 

Feb. 20. 1759. 
There is a great pleafure in failing to different 
parts of the world, to fee the divine wifdom, and profufe 
bounty every where difplayed, of him that made the 
whole *, but there is a great pain in this, that wherever 
W€ go, we fee the terrible de variation of fin. If we look 
to one fhore, there fuperftition reigns 5 if to another, there 
cruelty rsges. Thefe pretend to be Chriftians, thofe 
avow themfelves Mufielmen, while a third are mere infidels. 
All worflrip fome Gcd, but how few the true God, how- 
very few, the true God in truth ! O, then, that God 
would have refpecl to his covenant, becaufe the dark 
places of the earth are full of the habitations of horrid 
cruelty ! When (hall the darkneis that covers the 

nations, 



TttE TRAVELLER. 1 37 

nations, the grofs darknefs that covers the people, be 

difpelled by the light of the glorious gofpel of the Son 
of God'? When ihall Jehovah, as his fpecial and fpiritual 
inheritance, take all nations ? Shall Satan continue to 
take kingdoms captive at his will ? Shall the dellroyer 
of the Gentiles ruin precious fouls without numbei f fnall 
they therefore empty theii net, and not ipare continually 
to flay the nations ? Let not the curfe devour the earth, 
and them that dwell thereon. When (hall the name of 
Jew ard Gentile be loft in that of Chrillian, and ChrU 
fiians become the true worfliippers of the Father, the fol- 
lowers of the Lamb ? When {hall that reviving ac- 
clamation charm the ears of all the expectants of the 
f:xred conquefl, u The kingdoms of this world are be- 
come the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Chvilt : and 
he fnall reign for ever and ever r : ' Hail en the time 
when the Lord of unlverfal nature (hall bellow this 
general benediclion, faying, Bleffed be Afia and Africa, 
my people, America, the work of mine hands, and Europe. 
with her Ifles, mine inheritance. 



MEDITATION LXVIL 

ON REACHING A PORT AFTER BEING LONG AT SEA, 

Gibraltar Bay, Feb, 21. 2759. 

Now we have reached the deiired haven, when pa- 

tience was almoR worn out, and we had been long fported 

with by the unfavourable gale. Among the baffling 

Kinds we fpent at leaft thrice the time that might have 

M 3 brought 



I38 THE TRAVELLER. 

brought us hither \ but now, when fafely moored, the 
dark reflections fly, and the difagreeablenefs of our 
paffage decreafes, through joy that we are come fo fafe 
to an anchor : the very difficulties that overtook us on 
the ocean make our coming to harbour afford us greater 
pleafure, than if a favourable wind in a few days had 
wafted us hither. 

Even fo, when the faints of God reach the happy 
Ihore, it fhall, as it were, heighten the joys of the higher 
houfe, that they dwelt in the houfe of mourning;, fofren 
their reft, that they were toffed on a ftormy ocean \ 
"brighten the heavenly virion, that they have feen fcenes 
of affii&ion ; fwell their delight and complacency, that 
their life was full of difappointmenc and pain; and fweet- 
en thefe rivers of pleafures, that they have drank the 
waters of Mara. Here the troubled failor in a ftorm is 
afraid of fhip wreck every moment \ but the faint may be 
affured (why then, Q faints ! fo much doubting ?) that 
be (hall fafely arrive at Immanuel's coaft, in fpite of all 
the ftorms that attack, and tempefts that attend him by 
the way. Courage, then, my foul, and weather out 
the fqualls^ and endure the blttereft blafts that can blow 
againft thee, triumphing in this one confederation, that 
eternal veracity is engaged for thy fecurity. The 
ftorms that now befet thee are but tranfient, and alfc* 
bounded \ but the reft and peace, the felicity and joys, 
that are referved for thee, are eternal, immenie, ami 
pafting all underftanding^ 



MEDI* 



^9 



THE TRAVELLER. 

MEDITATION LXVIIL 

CN A MAN THAT DIED BY LIQUOR. 



Under sail j Mediterranean, March 6. 1759* 
In how many things is it poilible for man to tranf- 
greis ? Not a blcfting but he can turn into a curfe > 
not a mercy but he can fuck rnifery from ir, and, by 
excefs, the means of life become the cccaiion of death. 
Kow fad an ufe make we of the creature, when it renders 
us incapable of ferving our Creator > which i* the cafe, 
not only with the drunkard and glutton, but with the 
carnal-minded man, who furfeits on the cares and riches 
of this world ! 

This demented wretch, this poor fellow-creature, 
tried his ftrength to his own deftru&ion, and was a more 
cruel fuicide or felf- murderer, than if he had given him* 
felf a mortal wound j for then he might have died awake, 
and with the exercife of his reafon, but now he under- 
goes the laft, the moft tremendous change afleep, and 
totally deprived of the ufe of reafon ! He drank till he 
dropped down in a dead fleep,,.out of which it was im- 
.pofiible to awake him (for death was in it) till plunged 
into the world of {pints. But how terrible to die in 
^fuch a condition ! If any dreams, reflection, or remem- 
brance of former things, could penetrate his profound 
flumber, Jiis deep fleep, he would believe himfelf to be 
ft ill among his companions, drinking the other glafs, and 
quaffing it out merrily among his mefs-mates. But O 
how inconceivably aftonillied, and terribly furprifed, to 
find himfelf difembodied, and in his fober wits, pannelled 
before the awful tribunal ? and hear the final fentence 

paffed ! 



1 40 THE TRAVELLER. 

palied ! Fain would he recoil into the body which foe 
lately left, but the union is diffolved, the tie is broken ^ 
and he is thence forth an inhabitant in the world of 
fpirits 1 Perhaps he dreamed, while the fiery fpirits were 
burning up his vitals, that he was drinking at fome cool- 
ing dream ; but how difappointed to find bis nril draught 
the wine of the flercenefs of the wrath of God, poured 
out without the lean 1 mixture of mercy ! The lait words 
he fpoke were oaths, but how would it ftrike with terror 
to hear the belching of confummate defpair ! While he 
felt himfelf at once furrounded with the howlings of 
Tophet; the blafphemies of the damned, and all the 
groans and yellings of the burning jnt, what tongue can 
tell, what heart conceive what be muft feel ? 

Indeed the thoughtlefs rabble feemed fome what 
amazed at this uncommon death j but how rtiperficial is 
their concern while they continue the very fame exceffes 
which proved fatal to their fellow-creature ! But how- 
ever much amazed man may be at this manner of the 
foul's going out of the body into eternity, in fuch a dole- 
ful cafe, in fuch a melancholy condition, the whole 
gracelefs world die : for though they can talk to men, 
and have their eye, their ear, their tongue, in a word, 
the ufe of all their fenfes, and the exercife of their 
reafon to the lair, yet their fouls, with refpect. to fpiritual 
things, and communion with God, are as faft afieep, as 
deadly and deeply intoxicated with the juice of the vine 
of Sodom, even the draughts of fin and pleafure, as this 
poor man that died with too much liquor \ and mall be 
equally aftoniihed, terrified, tormented, when awaked io 
the world of fpirits. 



MEDI- 






THE TRAVELLER. X4I 

MEDITATION LXIX. 

THE EARTH A GLOBE. 

Under sail, Mediterranean, March 13. 1759. 
Wherever I fail, the earth is nill beneath my feet, and 
the heaven is itili above my head ; which mews the mad- 
nefs of man's defire, that has no limits, when its object is 
every where circumfciibecL It is not for a kingdom 
exalted above the hills, that the contending nations now 
are at war 5 it is but for a foot-breadth of duft, a pro- 
vince, an ifland, or a frontier town, that tribes are 
ilaaghtered, and nations are undone. Were there no- 
thing better than this earth, no wonder it we fought to 
extend out poffeflion in the earth. It would be excufe- 
able for avarice to feek to the ends of the world, if 
there the golden mountains arched above our heads with 
all their fparkling veins ) but ft ill this idol of mankind 
lies buried in ore, and deep in the bowels of the earth, 
that it may not affeel our ambitious eye ; and dill the 
heavens bend above us, to attract the foaring principle 
efiential to the human foul. But as man defpifes what 
he mould efteem, and doats on what he mould abhor ? 
feeking the creature more than the Creator, who is him* 
fell bleffed for ever, and makes all that feek him bleffedj 
God, in a way of judgement, " has fet the world in the 
hearts of the fens or men. M Hence their whole chafe, ftudy, 
End endeavour, is for the world* which, though in great 
abundance obtained, cannot fatisfyus*, yet, believing that 
an addition to what we already have, will afford that 
fa tisf action which we are confeious we want, our chafe 
is perpetuated, and we are full disappointed. But how 

poor 



I42 THE TRAVELLER. 

poor an heart-full have we who embrace our fepulchre, 
and hug our very tomb ! For we mull (hortly lie buried 
among the mould we fo much admire, and rot in the 
groffer particles of duft which we fo regard. What is 
empire to an immortal foul ? What the enjoyment of 
the univerfe for a few years, to one whofe exigence 
muft ' meafure with endlefs evermore ? Then, as the 
earth is under my feet, and the heavens above my head, 
wherever I wander, let my affections trample this with 
juit difdain j but my foul, on the wings of holy defire> 
foar to the regions of eternal day I 



MEDITATION LXX. 

ON SHIPS MISTAKING ONE ANOTHER. 

Mediterranean, March 14. 1759* 
How often on the ocean do we prepare to fight a 
friend ! W T herever we fee a itrange fail that belongs not 
to our fieet or fquadron, we look upon her as an enemy, 
and fo give chafe, bring to, and fpeak with her. When 
we learn that fhe is out on the fame errand, to diftrefs 
the common fee, and by the fame authority, at laft 
cur preparation for an engagement iffues in an agreeable 
beguile. But at other times we are ftill more unhappy, 
while in the dark night, and not attending to, or un- 
der {landing each other's fignals, we think we haVe found 
cur enemy, and fo fire upon one another. W T hen the morn- 
ing light, or feme other means, undeceive us, we feel 
in the moft exquifite manner for our miftake j though 
his Majefty has made provinon lor the friends of the un- 
happy 



THE TRAVELLER. I43 

happy fufferers if they die, or the fufferers themfelves i£ 
rendered lame, by engaging one another through mif- 
take. 

Even fo is the cafe often among the faints and churches 
of God. Conteits come between the bed of men, and 
fometimes about the fmalleft matters. Paul and Barna- 
bas are fo hot about their companion, that they part 
company; and to this day the teachers of the good 
knowledge of God can fall out about a word, though 
they own one Lord, one faith, one baptifm, and fub- 
fcribe one creed. Then, from thefe differences, we appre- 
hend one another to be enemies \ and, giving ground to 
cur appreheniions, we begin to treat each other as 
enemies to the truth, and to the King of Zion, to the 
injury of the common caufe of religion, and the hurt of 
the loyal fubjects of Heaven. 

Such indeed are the trials of the faints and church in 
their militant irate, fuch are the calamities that are con- 
tingent to her in thefe days cf darknefs, and on .this fea 
of trouble *, but when they come to fpeak mouth to 
douth, and to fee eye to eye in the light of glory, they 
ihall be all one. We mould indeed contend for the 
truth with a zeal and concern due to its divinity, but 
with a tendernefs and fympathy which our prefent im- 
perfection pleads for. We mould love the truth dearly, 
but yet rather pity than defpife thofe that depart from 
fome points which we count truth. We mould not fell 
the truth to buy friends, to make a party, or gain num- 
bers to our fide; but we mould forego our own humours, 
that the truth by us get not a wound. We had feme- 
times better employ our time in prayer to God to turn 
them from the error of their way, than (how our parts 
and our fpleen, in proving them to be wittingly blind, and 

to 



1-44 THE TRAVELLER. 

to have wilfully erred. We mould do all things, except 
wound the truth, to make all men one in the truth 5 and 
when differences are done away, perfonal affronts mould 
never ftand in the way of reconciliation. How* deplor- 
able would it be, if my hands, inftead of being a mutual 
help, mould fcratch and tear one another j if my feet, 
inftead of bearing me out the way, mould ftand ftill to 
Idck at one another ! So, and much worfe. is it for faints, 
who are the fpiritual members of Chrift the living head, 
to bite and devour one another*, but this is owing to the 
remains of corruption in them j and perfect peace is 
referved for the (rate of bigheit perfection. 

Now, as it is only at fea, and under the gloom of 
night, that we are like to make miftakes, for when we 
come into harbour, and enjoy the noon-day beam, we 
have no doubt of one another, but know that we ate all 
the fubjecte of one King, engaged in one caufe, and com* 
bined againft the common enemy \ fo it is only in this vale 
of tears, this day of thick darknefs, that we cannot under- 
hand one another, but are ready, like the officious dif- 
ciples, to forbid them that follow not with us in all things, 
though they be the fervants of Chrift. But when the war- 
fare is finihhed, and the faints affembled before the" throne 
of God and the Lamb, all wrong views, jarring opinions, 
difcordance and difference, fhall be done away for ever $ 
in view of which eternal tranquillity we muft comfort our- 
felves under the difagreeable occurrences of this trouble- 
fome life, where we not on»y muft"£ght with foes, but 
fall out with deareft friends, and differ with our own 
felves. 



MEDI- 



THE TRAVELLER. J45 



MEDITATION LXXI. 

WHAT WE OUGHT TO REMEMBER. 

Leghorn , April 5. 1759. 

As we can never be from under the eye of God, nor 
would chufe to be caft out of his care j fo Zion mould 
never be out of our mind, nor call out of our concern. 
Bendes, as we itill think ourfelves branches of the family 
to which we belong, and are glad to hear from our pa- 
rents and relations of their welfare, however diftant 
from them *, fo if we are members of myflical Zion, we 
will rejoice in her profperity, and flourifliing condition, 
though we be in the utmoft parts of the earth. Sure- 
ly, then, if I remember the Lord afar off, as I ought, 
Jerufalem will alfo come into my mind. 

" How, then, have matters Hood with Zion in the 
land of my nativity ? What fuccefs has the glorious 
gofpel had r how have the flocks been fed ? how have 
people profited in the day of their merciful vifitation J 
how has vice been fuppreffed, and religion prevailed ? 
how has truth been defended, and error expofed ? how 
have the oppreffed been relieved, and the heritage of God 
watered p what fons and daughters have been born in 
Zion ? and are the true worfhippers of the Father increa- 
fed ?" Thefe things, armdit all my other concerns, mould 
go nearefl my heart, and the intereils of Chrlfl's king- 
dom mould be my firft concern, wherever my habitation 
for a time may be, hoping he will bring me again, and 
fhew me both hirnfelf and his habitation. " If I forget' 

N thee- 



t^6 THE TRAVELLER. 

thee, O Jerufalem ! let my right hand forget her cun- 
ning ; if I do not remember thee, let my tongue cleave 
to the roof of my mouth, if I prefer not Jerufalem above 
sny chief j-cy." 



MEDITATION LXXIL 

THE PATIENCE OF GOD VERY GREAT. 

Leghorn, April G. 175 9-. 
Truly it aftonhhes me that God fpares thofe aban- 
doned wretches, who day by day grow more wicked, and let 
their blafpheming tongues againft the very heavens, and 
multiply rebellion againft God. Truly it furprifes me, 
that that vengeance which they fo often invoke, is not 
poured down on them ; that that power which they fo 
often dare, does not deftroy them ! but God will mani- 
fed himfelf to be God by his adorable patience, as well 
as by his terrible juflice. Let me fuppofe that the fub- 
jecb of a certain great King rife up in rebellion againft 
him, but by his fuperior power are routed, reduced, 
and all made prifoners ; that royal clemency makes 
out a pardon lor many, who are fo fenfible of the un- 
merited favour, that they throw away the weapons of 
their rebellion, and ever after live the moft obedient, loyal, 
and affectionate fubjecte that can be ; but that others 
are apprehended, tried, condemned, and caft into prifon, 
till the day they are to be brought forth and broken on 
the wheel \ that in the mean time the ftubborn wretches 
keep railing and abufing the prince, and fpewing out their 
malice to every one that paffes by, till it reaches the 

royal 



THE TxRAVELLER. 1 47 

royal ear > yet that it could not fo incenfe the king as to 
caufe him fend and tear the rebels limb from limb an 
hour before the fet time. Even fo deals God with Tin- 
ners ; he exerciies amazing forbearance, not willing that 
any ihould periih, but at laft he will puniih awfully, and 
fuffer no firmer to efcape. 

Do I, then, envy them their few peaceful years ? 
cr would I, like the difciples of old, fetch down confum- 
ing flames from heaven to burn them up, before he corns 
in flaming fire to take vengeance on his enemies ? No; let 
mercy reign her time \ for with refpedt to the wicked, 
mercy (hall foon quit the throne to inexorable juftice, and 
then their roifery (ball be paft exprefllon, and their over- 
Sowing anguirh mall exceed the fountain of their tears, 



MEDITATION LXXIII, 

DELUSION*. 

Leghorn, ^pril 9. 1750. 
Among all the various kinds of delufion, that which 
concerns the foul, religion, and God, is molt melancholy, 
and has the moil difmal effects. Some, becaufe born in 
a religious family, account themfelves Chriftians from 
their cradle, and give themfelves no concern about the 
new birth. Others think all is well with them, becaufe 
they are neither fwearers nor liars, drunkards nor forni- 
cators j they are juft between man and man, have a 
form of godlinefs, and hence think' themfelves in a fair 
way for heaven, though ignorant of fpirituai union to 
him who is the life of the fcul, and quite unacquainted 
N 2 with 



I48 THE TRAVELLER. 

-with a life of faith on the Son of God. Again, there are 
others who have been very wicked in their younger 
days, have been in-the army or navy, arid then and there 
have committed all wickednefs with greedinefs, Now, if 
thefe men are feparated from their wicked companions, 
and live where fobriety is more in fafhion, they drop 
their oaths, and go regularly to church \ and if they 
have entered into the married fiate, and prove faithful 
to the marriage-bed, then they count themfelves con- 
verted, and blefs their happy Hate, though they have 
never undergone, and know nothing of, a faving change. 
Though the moll wicked are at all periods of life invited 
to return to God, yet w r hat numbers periih through de- 
lufion, are averfe to try themfelves, and build for eterni- 
ty on fand : Not to fpeak of the delulions of Popery, 
which makes a merchandife of fouls, there are fome 
who, becaufe they have had fome legal terrors, feme 
awakenings, and fome refolutions to amend, though 
Jgnorant of the new birth, think they are converted % 
and fome, in the decline of life, feeling death fad ap* 
proaching, begin to be ftartled at diflblution, and af- 
frighted to plunge into eternity, condemn the groffer 
actions of their life, and their ill-fpent time, and fo, to 
make amends for all, read much in the Bible, and ether 
religious books \ but ftill the fin of their nature lies out 
of fight ^ nor do they advert to this, that a man muft be 
born again, elfe he fhall never fee the kingdom of heaven- 5 
2nd yet fuch men pafs for converts among the men of 
the world. . 



MEDI- 



THE TRAVELLER. M£ 



MEDITATION LXXIV. 

ON SEEING SLAVES AT WORK. 

Leghorn, April 10. i;/ 

To what hard circumstances aie fome fellow- creatures 

need ! Thefe poor men are in bondage, without any 

expectation of freedom till death deliver them. Are not 

dfevere labour punifhment enough, 

without dragging the iron chain, which, locked abouc 

their ankles, link two and two, or couples them, 

: ! and vet, as if all this were not feveri- 

tv enough, fee the armed foldiers attend them every 

where ! 

So, O finaers '. and wove deals Satan with yon, and 
yet you will not leave his fervice, his fiavery, and be* 
come ChriiTs free men. 

Whence is it that the men of the world, the fons ox 
vice, think the faints of God {hackled and confined, and- 
that themfelves enly are free *, and aiTume the title of 
libertines and free-thinkers, when indeed they are fettered 
drudges, narrow fouls, and bond-ilaves ? The faints, ar;d 
they alone, walk at liberty, being ran famed frcm their 
cruel captivity by price, and delivered by power. 

Thefe ilaves have hard labour, but a coarfe and 
fcainty diet } ib, when iinners weary themfelves in the 
fire, they are fed, but with wind, and their belly filled^ but 
with the whirlwinds 

They are under the check and controul of foldiers, 

who are commonly the dregs of the people j to the 

£&nez b under the check of the meaneil paffions, under 

N 3 the 



1J0 THE TRAVELLER. 

the influence of the moil fordid lulls, and Tees not his 
mifery. 

Satan, like this prince *, makes the men that run in 
his fervice drag along with them all the figns of flavery, 
and badges of bondage, which it is pofrible for them to 
be loaded with ', and they even w T eary themfelves for 
very vanity. Their pleafures pierce (what can fiaves 
enjoy ?) and give pain } their joys are acid, and their 
enjoyments full of torment. All that they can poflefs 
themfelves of, has ftill a deficiency j and yet they hunt 
after fhadows, and purfue imaginary blifs. Moreover, 
Satan, like the fentries of thefe poor fiaves, is fUll pufn- 
ing flnners on to works of darknefs, and the reward at 
laft is more fhame, more forrow, and more torment. 

Though thefe men toil hard all the day, yet at night 
they have not a foft bed to reft thereon their weary limbs ^ 
fo the finners that weary themfelves to commit wicked- 
nefs all the day of life, at laft lie down in forrow amid it 
devouring flames. 

Indeed thefe poor creatures have the night allowed 
for their repofe, but finners often pafs the filent night in 
fcenes of darknefs, and their very dreams are filled with 
the rambles of the day. 

Again, thefe are fiaves through life, but death unlocks 
the fetters, and knocks off the chains, and gives them 
perfect liberty : hut with the wicked it is not fo, for if 
grace deliver them not, death only feals their ilavery, and 
ihuts them up in the prifon of the bottomlefs pit. Oh ! 
melancholy truth, that Satan's fiaves fhould be fo many, 
and fo content with their fad condition, though death 
and hell attend its latter end* 

MEDI- 
* The Gr^ud Duke of Tufg^ny, \riio was fovereign of Leghorn 






THE TRAVELLER. *$* 

MEDITATION LXXV. 

QUARANTINE. 

Under sail near Sardinia, April 21. 1759* 
It is a laudable practice among thefe nations, to make 
all (Lips, that come from places where the plague now 
and then appears, perform quarantine ) and during that 
time to forbid their own people all correfpondence with 
the fufpected crews. If it is commendable to be careful 
of the welfare of a nation, how culpable is that church 
that receives or keeps in her communion perfons immoral 
in their iife, or un found in the faith. How dangerous in 
private perfons, who pretend to be religious, to contract 
acquaintance, intimacy, or fiiendfhip with men of .loofe 
mcrals or libertine principles ! O my foul ! come not 
thou into their fecret, into their fociety ! Hgw cautious 
fhould we be to mingle in the company of the wicked,, 
tvhere we are fure to fuffer one way or other ! And our 
care herein ought to extend to all the connections of life. 
Would I live in the fame city with men dying daily of 
infectious difeafes ? would I admit into my houfe per- 
fons to ferve me, if labouring under the plague ? and 
would I take into my bofom that perfon, in other re- 
fpecls however amiable and dear, if full of the peftilence ? 
How agreeable, then, to have the fearers of God, the 
citizens of Zion, for the men of my city I to have Chrifi's 
free men for fervants in my family ! and fuch as have 
an intereft in Chrift for my neareft connections ! 

Some futtlers adventure along-fide, and fell for 2n 
extravagant price fuch things as we want, and cannot 
go alhore to purchafe y they pretend not to touch us* 

but 



lyZ . THE TRAVELLER. 

but at arm's length, and with a board too, to reach out tm 
commodity, and receive the money : Even To, men for the 
love of gain will go every length \ will riik not only the 
peace, but the falvation of their fouls, for a temporal ad- 
vantage. O to fee things in their proper light, and not put 
bitter for fweet, and fweet for bitter j time in the place of 
eternity, and eternity in the place of time \ the creature 
in the room of God/and give God no room at all. 

The longed>for day arrives, when the officers of 
health infpect the crew, pronounce us clean, and permit us 
to come afhoie ; and then we mingle in every company, 
appear in every place : Even fo, when Jefus, in that me- 
morable day, a day longed for by the lovers of his name, 
acquits his faints before an affembled world, they ihal-1 
rife to heaven, walk the ftreets of glory, mingle with 
angels, and dwell foi ever with God. 



MEDITATION LXXVL 

THE NEEBXE. 

May 5. 175Qv 
Of what excellent uie is the compafs to the mariner 
in his courfe from one country to another ! It is his 
guide over the tracklefs ocean, fo that the darknefs of 
the night ihortens^ not his fail, nor turns him out of the 
way. By this he reaches the remotest parts of the world, 
and adventures out into the unmeafurable main. By 
this the trading nations fland and rlourith, and king- 
doms (hare mutually the commodities of one another. 
Even fuch is the everlafling gofpel, fuch the word of 

Gocl^ 



THE TRAVELLER. 1 53 

God, to the rational world. Ey this we reap the 
bleftings of paradiie, and are enriched with the produc- 
tions of the better country. By that manners plow the 
wide ocean j by this we launch into unbounded eternity 
itfelf. 

The ufefulnefs of the needle rifes from the magnetic 
virtue with which it is impregnated, and which makes 
it point always to the pole \ fo the excellency of the 
icripture is, that it came not by the will cf men, but 
holy men fpake as they were moved by the Holy Ghoft ; 
and therefore it leads all who will attend to its in ft ruc- 
tions only out to God. Nov;, as one piece of metal, 
capable of receiving the magnetical influence, will com- 
municate it to another piece of the fame metal j yet, 
whatever way the virtue is received, w'hen properly fuf- 
pended, it points not to the load-ftone, but to the true 
pole \ fo the fcriptures and the ordinances never teach 
men to reft in them, but to rife to God, the chief gocd, 
and ultimate end of all ; and to this purpofe all infpira- 
tion points, and all teaching and preaching tend. 

How deplorable were a (hip at fea without its compafs J 
and no lefs \o were the world wanting revelation, with- 
out which they could not find the haven of glory. 
What, then, rauft the mifery cf thofe nations be, who lit 
in grofs darknefs ! and the cruelty of thofe who will 
not let the poor people look into the words of eternal 
life ! 

But, alas ! for all this noble affi/iant of navigation, 
how r many ihips perifh in ftorms, or mifiske their reckon- 
ings, and are darned on rocks ! Even fo, in the Chiiftian 
world, for all this divine guide, how iuany make (hip- 
wreck of a good confcience, perifti amidft the ftorms of 
temptation, in the dark night of defection, and, by op« 

poftng 



154 TH E TRAVELLER. 

pofing error to truth, da(h againft immoveable rocks, and 
are loft for ever. 

The load- (lone is in no refpecl fo ufeful to the fea- 
xnan, as the fcriptures to the Chriftian, by which errors 
are difcovered, dangers difclofed, doubts difcuffed, dark- 
nefs difpelled, and cur eternal concerns laid open to our 
view. They are our cloud that covers us in the defart*, 
a light to our path, our companion by the way, our 
counfellors, and our fong in the houfe of our pilgrimage. 

The compafs is cf little or no ufe at home, when we 
take up our fixed refidence, and pafs no more from (bore 
to more, from pole to pole : So, when the faints arrive 
at heaven, and take up their laft abode in the divine 
prefence, of gofpel-ordinances and the fcriptures they 
ihall (land in need no mere. 

But again, how does that needle give a lively idea of 
the foul that is truly united to Chrifl ! it feeks its centre, 
and the faint fays to his foul, " Return to thy reft, O 
my foul !" Take the compafs to whatever part of the 
world you pleafe, ftill it turns to the pole \ fo the faints, 
in all conditions, and in all places, ftill feek to Chriit \ 
and like the Jews in captivity, who prayed with their 
faces toward Jerufalern, fo the faints in their pilgrimage 
have their faces towards Zion, their hearts heavenward, 
their converfation in heaven. 

Indeed it is poilible to tofs the needle from its pole, 
but fee in what confufed motion it agitates, and never 
refts till it has reached its centre again \ fo the fpoufe 
may mifs her Beloved, but fhe refts not fee king hirn 
every where, and aiking at every one (he meets, u Saw 
ye him whom my foul loveth r" nor gives over the in- 
quiry, till (he find him, and, with ail the vehemency o-f 

diving 



TKE TRAVELLER. l$f 

divine aflection, embraces him in the arms of her foal, 
with a refolution never to let him go again. 

The attractive power in the magnet is a fecret in 
nature, for no vifible change is in the needle more than 
before \ it is by the effects that we know it has been 
touched by the load-ftone, in its attracting, and being 
attracted, and turning to the pole : So the new birth, 
the fpiritual union between Chrift and the foul, is an 
nnfearchable myftery that no finite creature can explain 5 
for there is a glorious change made in the man, yet the 
man is not changed 5 he continues flill a man, human, 
frail, changeable, mortal, pofleffed of the fame feelings, 
powers, paffions, only they are all directed into a noble 
channel, and by this the change is known. 

Finally, (to add no more), as the needle is always in 
a tremulous motion, though pointing towards its pole, 
becaufe of the reftlefs ocean on which it is, and the falfe 
attraction with which it meets ; yet, when the lhip is 
laid up, and the compafs" fet on folid ground, the needle 
will point to its pole for ever, without the lea ft hair- 
breadth of variation : So is it with the faints. They en- 
deavour to make God the reft and centre of their fouls ) yet 
in this day of fin and forrow, in this vale of mifery and 
tears, where falfe attractions fur round them, their de- 
pendence is not fo entire on him, their faith not fo firm, 
nor their communion fo clofe as they could wi(h 5. but 
when they are tranflated to the higher! heaven, a three-one 
God (hall be the reft of their fouls, their centre and fole 
delight for ever. 



MEDI- 



%$6 THE TRAVELLER. 

MEDITATION LXXVII. 

IN A ROMAN-CATHOLIC CHURCH. 

May 18. 1759. 
Ah! what a poor figure does human invention mrke in 
the worfhip of God ! Where a fuperftitious (hew 
prevails, godly fincerity decays. The expences here 
are great, but the profit none. They have lifted up the 
graving tools of human invention on the altar of God, 
which renders it polluted. To what purpofe are all 
thefe flatues, images, and paintings ? to what end fo 
many reprefentations of a differing Saviour ? The new 
life is begun by the operation of the Spirit of God, and 
not by an infpectlon of pictures \ and Chrift formed 
fpiritually in the foul is the end of revelation, but not to 
cut him out by the tool of the flatuary. It is true, here 
he ftands with all the figns of agony and pain, the prick- 
ing thorns are wreathed about his head, and the blood 
is dreaming dowm on every fide ! but who is this ? did 
I not know the ivory, did not the fuperfcription tell me, 
I mould take him for feme great malefactor that was 
fo cruelly ufed. A man, indeed, in all imaginable an* 
.guifh, is cut out to the life, where the (kill of the artift, 
but the folly of the contriver, eminently appear , but 
nothing more appears, not one beam of his divinity 
fhines forth. If he were no more than what this 
ftatue fets him forth, a poor, infirm fuffering mortal, our 
hopes would have diea" with him, but had had no re- 
furrection : it might excite our fympathy as to a fellow- 
creature, but never claim our faith as a Saviour, Chrift 

the 



■THE TRAVELLER. 157 

the Lord. The union of the two natures in one perfon> 
and his fubftitution in the room of finners, is the inte- 
refting myftery, and bails of religion. Now, what painter 
or limner, what fculptor or artift can exhibit this ? 
how vain, then, their incentives to devotion ! Yea, though 
our Saviour were yet alive, his humanity could not be 
the object of adoration \ hence he reproved the young 
man for calling him ** Good Mailer," feeing he con- 
sidered him not as God-man, but only as man : and fo fays 
the apoille, " Yea, though we have known Chrift 
after the fleih, yet hencefoith know we him no more." 
Streams rife no higher than their fountain, fo that their 
unwarrantable reprefentations give tht at moil but a 
faint view even of human fuffe rings. The dumb flatue 
emits no melting cries, no throws and tvviitings of the 
body, or varied diftortions of the countenance, no affect- 
ting fighs, or agonizing groans j iYill the tears iland in 
one place, and the falling blood is not fucceeded by more, 
becaufe the tears have no fountain, and the blood no 
veins to afford a fupply ) fo that to read the infpired 
account gives the Chrift ian a more - perfect knowledge 
and ilriking view of his fufferings than all the mafter- 
pieces of the beft painters. But when they give but a 
faint view of bodily fufferings, what can fet forth the 
agonies of our Saviour's foul, which, like wax before the 
fire, was melted in the midft of his bowels, and was 
poured out like water ? Can they paint the ftrokes of 
divine vengeance which he bore for us, or depict the 
hidings of his Father's countenance, which gave fo deep 
a wound ? Thefe are things for faith, not for fenfe ; and 
it is the excellency of faith that it can and may inter- 
meddle with divine things, while fenfe muft ftand at a 
di fiance. 

O As 



I58 THE TRAVELLER. 

As images ftrike our fancy, and impreflions of them 
abide with us, a dumb image ftands before us, when 
we adore the living God \ fo that in effect we are pray- 
ing to an idol, rather than to the Searcher of hearts. 
The idolaters of old reprefented God by an ox, calf, fire, 
fun, man, and fuch like, with which he was difpleafed j 
and the idolaters of late reprefent the incarnate God as a 
fcourged, bleeding, furTering creature, with which he is 
no lefs difpleafed. But I muft form no idea of God, 
that gives figure, limits, or bounds to him, becaufe he is 
infinite •, my foul mud go out in my prayers, in the 
immenfity of his perfections, and I muft make my plea 
the meritorious fufferings of Jefus, which no art of man 
can fet forth, as the Spirit of God can to the eye of faith 
in the renewed foul. 



MEDITATION LXXVIII. 

IN A HOT CLIMATE. 

Gibraltar Bay, May 18. 1750. 

What frail creatures are w T e the fons of men! yet how 
madly bold, that dare contend with God, when heat or 
cold, increafed but a few degrees, becomes intolerable I 
Here, in this fouthern clime, how fcorching is the noon- 
day fun ! the earth receives fo many folar fparks of fire, 
that fand and ftones almoft burn the naked ikin that 
touches them. Now, if it is fo hot fo many degrees from the 
meridian, what muft it be there, by the fun darting down 
his direct beams ? and if carried nearer the fun ftill, how 
muft the heat increafe, till approaching the burning crb, 
we find it all one material fire, one fubftantial flame ? 

Now, 



THE TRAVELLER* 1 59 

Now, faints and finners are like the inhabitants of the 
world, foine dwelling in a mild, fome in a fcorching 
climate. O miferable condition of the wicked, who change 
from ill to worfe, till their mifery can admit almoft of 
no increafe, but in the eternity of it ! Here his anger 
fcorches, and hereafter his wrath confumes them. O I 
who knows the power of his wrath ? Now they can put 
up with their cafe through ftupidity, though they know 
no inward folid comfort : but how will they ftand when 
oceans of boiling vengeance will roll over them for ever ? 
when they fhall be fet under the burring beams of 
inexorable juitice, and fiery indignation ? Our fun, even 
at his furface or centre, is mild compared to his difplea- 
iure who kindled that fun, and fet it in the firmament. 

Juii now my head is pained with the beating of the 
fun-beams, and ail my members lifelefs; every pore pours 
out my ftrength, and every fibre of my tongue panes for the 
cold fpring; but there a rock prefents itfelf, whofe friend- 
ly height takes off the fcorching beams, and hides me from 
the heat. — Now that I am arrived, how refrethful to 
ft and in the fhadow here, while all is parched and lcorched 
around me. So, and vaftly more, defirable is Chrift to the 
foul that is fcorched with Sinai's fiery flames, and Hands 
panting under the burning wrath of an offended God. The 
God-man " is an hiding- place from the wind, a covert from 
the temper!, as rivers of waters in a dry place, and the 
fhadow of a great rock"'' which neither melts before the 
heat, nor tranfmits it on the fainting pilgrim, 4< in a weary 
land." My body is fenfible of this covert from the 
heat ', may my foul be as fenfible of thy diviner fhadow ! 
Some rocks are parched with drought, but the Reck of 
figes has the fountain of falvation flowing from him. I 
O 2 muft 



l&fr THE TRAVELLER. 

muft leave this rock, though refreftiful, other wife I can- 
not purfue my intended journey; but in the fhadow of 
the everiafting Rock I muft reft for ever, eKc I (hall 
not be able to reach the end of my journey, the land of 
promife. To my comfort I find refreftiing in the Rock 
of falvation, even all that is needful in my paffage hea- 
venward, till I arrive at glory, become an inhabitant of 
the Rock for ever, and (hout mine everla fling fong fros* 
the top of the mountains of blifs. 



MEDITATION LXXIX* 

FISHERS. 

Gibraltar Mole, May 31. 1759* 
Here, on the Chore of this vaft fea, where innumerable 
creatures are, I ftand, and am entertained to fee the va- 
rious methods filhers try to entangle the finny tribe ) feme 
with the hook and bait fufpended on the water, others 
with the bait funk quite to the bottom *, fome ufe the 
infignificant earth-worm, and fucceed therewith, and 
what they catch with it they make a bait for larger fifli \ 
others ufe all forts of nets, and fpread the fail, and ply 
the oar in purfuit of the prey, and thus catch fome of all 
kinds. 

The ocean is the world, where all the fons of men 
fwim, everyone purfuing his own game; and it holds 
truer of them than of the fcaly family, that though they 
too often devour one another, yet they have their com- 
mon enemy, the old ferpent, the blood-thirfty dragon. 
Now, of thofe whom Satan makes a prey, fome are taken 

with 



TKE TRAVELLER. 1-6 1 

with baits of pleafure, others in the fnares and nets of 
temptation, at nrfl as it were againfl their will, through 
the reproofs of a natural confcierjce, or the effecls of 2 
religious education, but in a little are taken captive by 
him at his will. Again, how does Satan make ufe of 
one man to enfnare another, and draw him to hell I 
How often do evil communications corrupt good man- 
ners, and companions of fools are destroyed ! Theretore 
how careful fnould we be to (hun the company of the 
kicked, -for no (boner has Satan made a prey of one io-;A 9 
than he makes hi in a bait for others 5 and whomfor 
this old ferpent flings, he in'Hls fuch a poifon into them, 
that they can do nothing but fling others to death* 
though they themfelves be mortally wounded. This 
may look ft range, becaufe feme men, though they h 
no religion, appear very fober, but attend them a little, 
and you will find nothing but carnality, deadnefs, ear: 
mindednefs, breathe through all they do and fay. 

At fhore and at lea riihers are bufy to unpeople the 
waters, fowls from above feed on them, and fifties through 
the whole deep prey upon one another } bat man's con- 
dition is itill worfe, for, though he has enemies behind 
and before, dangers on every hand, and Satan watching at 
all points, he is alfo his own enemy. 

But, on the other hand, O that the waters that nTue 
cut of the fanftuary would come into the great fea, to 
heal the waters, whither the curfe has already cotne> 
that every thing might live. Let the gofpel, that con- 
tains this rlood of life, fpread through the world with 
healing to every creature ; and let men of all ranks and 
conditions be taken in the net of the gofpel. Let th~ 
fifhers ftand all along the banks, and be fuccefsful m 
catching fouls, and winning them to ChiiiL out of everj 
Uibe and tongue under heaven* 

3 Krsm- 



l62 THE TRAVELLER. 



MEDITATION LXXX. 

IN A SOUTHERN CLIMATE. 

These fouthern climates certainly, as to fruitfulnef% 
liave the better of our northern lfles \ and when the 
traveller tells the entertaining account of fpreading 
vines, and (hady fig-trees, the beautiful pomegranate, and 
nourilhing almond, the fragrant orange, and cooling 
lemon, with every other rare and ufeful production, it 
kindles a defire in others to poSTefs them, and makes them 
blefs the inhabitants of fuch fine and fruitful countries. 
JBut were the relation full, and the account faithful to 
every particular, it would make them blefs their fitua- 
tion in a land, where the mountains are fometimes cover- 
ed with fnow, and the waters concealed in ice. Did they 
rehear fe the dangers and difficulties found there, where 
the lion roars after his prey, where bears and tygers 
jange for blood, where fcorpions inftil torment with their 
poifon, and ferpents fting to death ) }ea, where, though 
free from all thefe misfortunes, the fcorching fun fatigues 
even to faintnefs, and the beautiful day by extreme heat 
becomes a burden j I fay, were the delights weighed 
with the dangers, the fatal incumbrances with the fruit- 
ful productions, it would caft out ambition, bring in con- 
tentment, and make us fettle with pleafure in what we 
might call the barren fpot. This is a real truth, and an 
interefting inference may be drawn from it, whereby 
we may regulate our wrong notions and blind opinions 
of rich and great men. Like the fruitful countries, they 
are only happy in our efteem, becaufe they feem to lie 
under the meridian of worldly felicity, and fun-mine of- 

profperity ; 



THE TRAVELLED 1S3 

proTperity *, yea, we are confirmed in this opinion, be- 
caufe the belter part of their condiiion only is told us ? 
as travellers do of the fine, but foreign fields. With them, 
however, it too often feres as with theie fertile lands y 
for worldly grandeur has the roaring lion of unbridled 
lull often let locfe on it, with all the train (more deftruc- 
tive than the tyger, bear, and ether beafts of prey) of 
unruly paiTions, befides the unnumbered fwarms of 
poiibnous thoughts crawling over all the powers of mind. 
Now, though proiperity of itfelf brings not forth fins, 
more than the heat of the'e climates creates hurtful 
creatures, yet there they growf, arid find large paiiure ; 
while fanCtified affliction, like a cold and northern 
climate, has none of thefe incumbrances. 

Were the life of great men, to their fecret thoughts ? 
laid before us, they would appear far frcm being fo happy 

• e fuppofe. Their ambition, their emulation, their 
jealcafies, their projects, their difappointmen;^, their 
cares, their company and confanon, hinder them to en- 
joy themfelves as men , yea, fliould all thefe remove, 
the abundance of their wealth will not fuffer them to 
fleep 5 and, take them in the general, whatever they 
may be in this world, they are, a few excepted, far frcm 
being happy with refpeel to the world to come. 

The world, then, is like a great body which God has 
made, and tempered fo that there mould be no fchifra in 
it. He has leilened the pleafures of the fweeteil climes 
by fome real difad vantages, and fweetened the mofl dif- 
agreeable fpotsbyfeme noble accommodations 5 thatman f 
who is but a pilgrim, may be pleafed with every place 
where God may caft his lot, and neither boaft of his owti 
country 7 , nor defpife the native places of others. 

Again, the fame is in the wcrld of mankind, the 

rational 



164 THE TRAVELLER. 

rational body, that there fhould be no fchifm there* 
Hence the pooreft man has as much fweetnefs in his con- 
dition, (bodily health, exercife of reafon, peace o£ mind, 
obedient children, &c), as blunts his grief j and the 
greater! man has as much gall (corroding anxiety, in- 
fatiabie appetites, broken constitution, penfive thoughts, 
peevifh temper, inward difquiet, &c.) as acidulates, or 
embitters his joys. This fhould render men content 
with that ftation God has placed them in, and not to 
expecl perfect felicity below \ for every man thinks 
happinefs is in another, not in himfelf, which proves that 
there is not one pofferTed of it on earth \ but he comes 
neareit it who is rnoft content with his own condition 
and prefent circumftances in every refpecl, not either 
murmuring at croffes when they come upon himfelf, 
ar envying others who feem to be exeemed from 
them 5 and keeps his mind on the better country, where 
all glorious beatitudes (hall be enjoyed without any thing 
to leffen the felicity, or abate the hlifs* 



MEDITATION LXXXE 

ON A COURT-MARTIAL* 

Gibraltar Bay* August S. 175©- 
Every law is made to reftrain from vice, and bind to* 
duty, and every nation has its own code of laws, military 
and civil. The martial law is accounted fevere ; and 
there is a neceffity for it, becaufe mutiny and difobe- 
dience to orders, cowardice in the time of adion, and 
defertion to the enemy, would have the moil fatal effects- 

But 



THE TRAVELLER. I 6$ 

But whatever be the offence, a few considerations would 
not be improper at fuch a time for the members of the 
court-martial. 

1. To do to the pannels, in their circumftances, as 
they would wi(h to be done to themfelves if in thefe 
very circumftances. 

2. To mind that an example and admonition to others 
is coftly when at the life of an individual. 

3. To pafs no other fcntence on the meaner! than 
they w T ould do on the higher! for the fame fault. 

4. To confult how they can anfwer to their confcience 
and to God, for their decifions, deaf to every thing but 
juftice and humanity. 

5. To incline rather to the fide of mercy than feverity 5 
and thus to imitate God in his moit amiable perfection, 

6. To reflect, if they are as itrict in punifhing fins 
againft God, as defertion againft their Sovereign, and 
offences againft themfelves \ and to confider whofe ho- 
nour fhould be moil attended to. And, 

7. To fix it in their mind, that in a little they mufl 
fland before the tremendous bar of God, where all dif- 
tinclions ceafe. No more the fovereign and tberfubieS, 
the admiral and feaman, the captain and the ioldier, the 
judge and the pannel. 

But from the proceedings of thefe courts I may leara 
inftrudtionj for if earthly kings fo puniili deferters, will 
not the King of glory deal awfully with the backfiiders 
in heart ? Thofe he has vouchfafed to know, and taken 
into his honourable fervice, fhall fufxer feverely, if they 
fall away from him. Sinners in the Chriftian world 
fhall have the hotteft hell ; and of all Sinters thofe who 
cnce tafted of the powers of the world to come, fhall 
fuffer the znoft excruciating torments. 

Again, 



2 66 THE TRAVELLER* 

Again, this may remind me of that day when net 
only actions (hall be tried, but even my intnoft thoughts 
examined, and not one concealed. The fentence of this 
court only refpecls the body, and muft be executed in 
time, though in the execution thereof, it fhould flnifh 
time to the criminal ; but the fentence of that tribunal 
reaches my foul in all her powers, and ftands in force, 
and is put in execution, through the endlefs ages of 
eternity. O that it may be a fentence of abfolution and 
peace ! 



MEDITATION LXXXII. 

GN SOME WHO V/ERE BURNT BY A QJJANTITY OJT 

GUN-POWDER CATCHING FIRE, IN TIME 

OF AN ENGAGEMENT*. 

Under sail> Augtist 29. 1750* 
Material fire fometimes in its effects is terrible. 
What can be quicker, and more tranfient than tie ex- 
plofion of gunpowder^ yet what direful effects has it 
had on thefe poor men whom it only feemed to touch 
as it flew along! So difmal, that even thofe who have 
loft their limbs are objefts of delight in comparifon of 
them whofe vifage is blacker than a coal \ whofe beauty 
is marred, and whofe countenance cannot be known 5, 
whofe ikin is parched, and falleth off from their flefli \ 
and, to fum up the whole, whofe pain, though external^ 
has kindled fuch.a fever within, that the frame of nature 
fuffers ; they rave and pine away, till the fcene is finifhed 
in death. 

Now, can I look on thefe miferable patients without 

letting 

* Six men were miferably burnt at one gun during the engage* 
meat Auguft 17. fome of whom died. 



THE TRAVELLER. 1 6") 

letting my reflections (hoot away, and fix on the world 
of fpirits, on fuch of them as are iuffei ing the vengeance 
of eternal fire ? Ah! what a fhocking fight is a torment- 
ed foul, and what miferable fpe&acles will the damned 
be, when foul and body are united to fuffer in the fire 
that (hall not be quenched, and by the worm that never 
dies ! the mod lovely perfon will be a loathing, and the 
mod beautiful an abhorring to all flefh. When a palling 
flame, that goes but fkin-deep, pioduces fuch difmal 
effects, what foul can apprehend the torment of thofe 
that are fentenced to the flames of hell ? Who can 
dwell with devouring fire ? (think on this, my foul, and 
ftudy to efcape), who with everlalting burnings ? If the 
productions of nature and human art can be fo deftructive, 
how much more fierce muft that fire be that is not blown, 
that flame that is not kindled by created invention ? 

There are fome antidotes againft the fcorchings of 
material fire, but none againil the burnings of devour- 
ing wrath. Here the poor patients are perpetually 
fipping fome cooling liquid to allay their third within, 
but there not one drop of water can be had to cool their 
fcorched tongue, who fwim in feas of fire, mingled with 
brimftone, which go into their very fouls, tormenting 
every part, agonizing every power. Here, in thefe poor 
men one part fuffers, and the reft fympathize: but there 
every part, every power fuffers, and none can fympa- 
thize. Surely, were the covering taken off hell, and the 
world allowed to look into the burning lake, they would 
drop down dead in a moment, the faints in a tranfport of 
joy, that they are to efcape the flames ; and finners in the 
anguiih of defpair, that they are to plunge into them at 
their departing moments. Now, feeing thefe things are 
not dreams, why will not we awaken to our danger and 
our duty, and be wife before it be too late ? 

MEDI- 



163 THE TRAVELLER. 

MEDITATION LXXXI1L 

ON A SEA-ENGAGEMENT FOUGHT AUG. 17*. 

August 22. 1759* 
Sin is the fource of all human miferies, making men, 
who ihould like brethren live together, devour one another 
like the wild beads of the field. The ocean, which is 
The boundary of kingdoms, by their invention is made the 
feat of war; hence the briny wave is tinged with human 
blood \ and dangers, unknown to the land, furround us, 
for we may be blown up in a moment, or in the twink- 
ling of an eye go down to the chambers of the deep. 
Befides, what can be a more terrible fcene than lo many 
great guns thundering mutual deftruclion, darkening aii 
with fmoke, and fpueing out fire and death ? The lols 
of officers, the groans of the wounded, caufe no inter- 
iniffion till the vanquilhed yield and flrike to the con- 
querors. 

. Nuw, if the wrath of men, who themfelves are cruflied 
before the moth, be fo fierce, and if it be terrible to 
meet an enemy, though formed of the clay, how much 
more fo to meet the God of forces, the Lord of Sabaoth, 
in his burning wrath ! How awful, ineffable, and tre- 
mendous beyond conception, mud be the thunders of his 
incenfed right-hand ! When the hour of patience is pail, 
the thunderings fhall begin, but who mall be able to 

Hand 

• The engagement referred to is that of -Admiral Bofcawefi 
With, the Toulon fleet, commanded by M. de la Clue. It was 
fought a little without the Straits, and lafled five hours. Three 
©f the enemy's ftups were taken, and two burnt. The Portland, 
on board of which the author was, engaged the French Admiral 
for nearly an hrur before fhe received affiflance. Her lofs was 
very confiderable ; yet during the firil hour's fighting not one was 
Oven wounded. 



9THE TRAVELLER. 1S9 

fland before them through eternity j compared with 
whofe bolts, the broadfides of a jirjl-rate are but the 
falling drops of moming*dew \ for who knows the power 
of his wrath, the terror of his vengeance I 

But, again, the fons of men reprove the expectants of 
a future world. When they fee they neither can efcape 
nor overcome, but muft perifh unlefs they ftrike their 
colours, anon they yield themfelves prifoners, and live 1 
but finners are obflinate to the very laft, though they 
can never fly out of his hand ; yea, the rebellion of their 
heart remains, though fche Lord God of recompences 
punifhes them through eternity. 

Again, what a lively reprefentation of our uncertain 
departure is here ! One who is now well is in a mo- 
ment no more, and is taken away from the midft of his 
companions into the world of fpirits, unconfeious of the 
ftroke that finifhes him, till felt ! When the engage- 
ment began, many might hope to fhare the honour of the 
viclory, and to divide the fpoil, who, by a fudden death, 
are dif appointed of all } fo, many in the prime of life, 
when projecting great fchemes, are cut off by a fever, or 
a fall, and muft leave his affairs in extreme confufion. 
How great is the folly of man ! Though nothing 
concerns him lb much as death, yet with nothing does 
he concern himfelf fo little ! Here a few hours clofe en- 
gagement cools the rage of the keeneft warrior, and de- 
cides the conteft } how melancholy, then, mull their con- 
dition be, who, on feas of wrath, muft bear the thunder- 
bolts of Jehovah's right-hand for an eternity, without 
intermiflion, and without any poffibility of an efcape ! 
On fuch a day as this, an enemy's powder and mot may 
fall fhort j but the magazines of vengeance are infinite, 

P and 



17° THE TRAVELLER. 

and the perpetual frown of him who is angry with finners 
every day, will protract their agony and torment with 
their exiftence. 



MEDITATION LXXXIV. 

ON PRISONERS. 

Under sail y August 30. 1759. 
One confequence of war, at leaft of victory, is, that 
fome are made prifoners •, and among contending armies 
on the day of battle, prifoners are made on both fides. 
By the laws of civilized nations, they are treated with 
Sympathy and tendernefs, as becomes fellow- creatures 
snd prifoners of war ; yet their belt fituation has always 
fomething in it difagreeable, and (by the cruelty of thofe 
who forget the golden rule, to deal with others, in every 
fituation, as they themfelves would chufe to be dealt 
with if In the fame condition) fomething almoft intole- 
rable. For, I. Though they are fed, yet their allowance 
is not the fame with the king's fervants. 2. They have 
not- the privileges of the fhip's crew as to bedding, but 
are crowded together in an uncomfortable confinement* 
3, No confidence can be put in them ; hence, though we 
fhould chance to engage an enemy, as they could not be 
truiled to fight, fo they would not fhare in the honour 
or advantage of the victory. 4. Though in the day*, 
time they fometimes mingle with the fnip's company, 
and partake of their liberty, yet they have always the 
badge of bondage, being attended by fentries, nd 
at night are feparated and put utic^ ckaiLle guards, 
and fo remain till the enfuing morning. 

This 



THE TRAVELLER. I7X 

This is the fate of rcany in war 5 .but, alas ! a worfe fate 
attends the rational world, where all are prifoners, and 
bound with the fetters of fin, but fuch as walk at large 
in Chriftian liberty. And though the wicked enjoy 
liberties and riches in common with others, yea, more 
than others, yet " a little that a righteous man hath is 
better than the wealth of many wicked }" for if a little 
where love is, be better than an houfe full of facrifices 
w T ith ftrife, furely a very little, with the love of God, is 
better than great riches with his curie. 

Now faints and finners meet and mingle in the fame 
affemblies, join in the fame focieties, and (hare the fame 
privileges 5 yet the one always drags the heavy chain 
about with him, is a fiave to every lull, the fcrvant of 
fin, the captive of the mighty enemy, and the prey of 
the terrible deftroyer - y but the other, being delivered 
from thefe, walks in the glorious liberty of the fons of 
God. While finners feed on fwinifh hunks, and break 
their teeth with gravel, the faints are allowed to feaft 
on heavenly manna, and to drink of the water of life. 
The firit lies down among thcrny cares, difquiet, terror, 
and reraorfe ) but the laft has a fweet recumbency 011 
the lcve of God, takes his reft in the promife, and finds 
it a couch that can eafe his pain, and remove his com- 
plaint. 

Again, as thefe men are feparated and clafled together 
at night, fo at the night of death, the wicked mingle 
no more with the righteous 5 for while the fouls of faints 
foar aloft to everlaitirsg day, and their bodies reft in 
the peaceful grave till the joyful refurredlion, the fpirits 
of finners are (hut up in the prifcn of hell,, and their 
bodies in beds of corruption till the genera! judgement. 

Pa . A 



J £2 THE TRAVELLER. 

A little time brings about the freedom of our captives, 
they are fet at liberty in a few months perhaps, and at 
the longed, when the war comes to an end \ but fhould 
the war continue as long as they live, yet death (hall 
deliver them from the power of every mortal, and tranf- 
late them into the world of fpirits \ but thofe that are 
rifen'up in rebellion againft God, he (hall fhut up 
in hell, and pour forth his vengeance on them for ever- 
more. 

Finally, we may fee the depravity of the world in the 
conduct of our friends, who would condole more our 
being taken prifoner by an enemy, and lofing all we 
had, than they bewail our natural, our unrenewed (late, 
our lofs of the image of God, of heaven, and of glory. 



MEDITATION LXXXV. 

A REFLECTION ON THE ROYAL PSALMIST'S EXPRES- 
SION, psal. xlii. 7. All thy waves and thy billows 
are gone over ?ne. 

Near Guernsey , June 3. 1758. 
O astonishing comparifon of an ineffable excefs of 
anguim ! " At the noife of thy water-fpouts, deep calleth 
unto deep," that both may meet together, to heighten the 
flow of my mifery to the laft extremity. Now, from 
the tofling of this reftlefs ocean, I may fomewhat learn 
the force of the metaphor. Here, then, many waves, 
many billows dafh upon us} nor do a thoufand preceding 
waves, or ten thoufand foaming billows that have fpent 
their fury on us, ftir up pity in the raging flood that 

forms 



THE TRAVELLER. I 73 

forms itfelf Into dreadful billows to fallen us afrefli, and 
that in all quarters, not like the regular courfe of a 
rapid torrent, but like the random furges of an unruly 
ocean. The fea-fick pauengers aboard End no com* 
paflicn, but reel and {tagger if they i to walk ; 

and if they fir, are thrown from ride to fide ; nay, though 
we wtre hanging for life upon the very wreck, the briny 
would cover us in its cold bofom, or, darning us 
wave to wave, would fpue us on the (here. 
Now, if nothing milder than the ocean, not in halcyon 
5, but when wearing all its terrors, when rearing and 
raging with univerfal confuGom when covered with ten 
thoufand wreftling waves all eager to deliroy, urged on 
by fucceeding and raited by the ruffling temped 

from the foaming deep, could defcribe the condi- 
tion of the pfalmiit, who was a faint, a favourite of 
heaven, in the day of God's withdrawing and hiding 
himfelf, though but for a moment: what ihall fet out the 
eternal anguith of thofe from whom he i5 ^ov.q for ever ? 
What billows of eternal wrath, what furges of divine 
indignation, mall overflow them for evermore ? There, 
in that ilate, their mifery is without mercy, their fea 
has no (bore, and their ocean no bound. Hence. I fee, 
that if God is pleafed to mine on -the foul, all crones are 
fweetened, all afflictions lightened, and the man made 
greatly to rejeice \ while, if he hides himfelf, even bleiT- 
ings wear a gloom, and every thing lcwers 3 till he arife 
again with healing in his wings. 



P 3 IV! EDI. 



1 74 THE TRAVELLER- 



MEDITATION LXXXVI. 

ON A SHORT INDISPOSITION. 

Two days ago, flying pains perplexed me, and made 
me turn and tofs from fide to fide, feeking what I could 
riot find, eafe to my weary body. The indifpofition 
filled me with difquietude, fcattered each compofed 
thought, and fixed an acute fenfe of pain. Indeed I 
foon got the better of it, but may I thereby be inftructed 
of the fiercenefs of the torment of the damned : and 
let them who have cancer, gout, (tone, or any other 
grievous complaint, think what torment mull be$ and 
thereby ftudy to efcape, while there is left a way to 
cfcape } or to prize their deliverance (if delivered) from 
fo great a death as the fecond death is, where all is 
torment in the higheft degree : where the bed is burning 
brimftone, the chains and fetters of fire and flame,, 
their horizon the blacknefs of darknefs for ever, their 
companions devils and damned fpirits \ and where every 
part is on the very rack, and nothing free of torment. The 
xnoft acute agonies which we feel in time, would be a 
kind of pleafure and delight, in coraparifon of the tor- 
ments of hell ! 

What {hall people labouring under excruciating dif- 
eafes then think, if they have no hopes that death, which 
muft end the difeafe, fhall mend the matter ? O, then, to 
be wife in time, and to be taught by every indifpofition 
to mind the concerns of an unfeen world \ for who knows 
the power of his wrath ? and if I can fcarce endure a 

little 



THE TRAVELLER. iyj 

little pang in one part, how fliall I fuffer torment in 
every part and power, in every fenfe and faculty, through 
the whole foul and whole body, and that ages without 
end ? 



MEDITATION LXXXVII. 

ON PUTTING OUT A LIGHT. 

Off the coast of France^ 'June S. 1753, 
The place I dwell in being fecluded from the folar 
ray, is obliged to a glimmering candle \ and when that 
is extinguilhed, total darknefs prevails at once. This 
puts roe in mind of the more mournful fituation of the 
natural man, the unrenewed foul, that flumbles in dark- 
nefs, and walks in the midnight-gloom. While the 
faints walk in the rays of the Sun of righteoufnefs, and 
rejoice in the light of his countenance, poor tinners 
dwell in the region and fhadow of death. Let them 
boaft of the glimmering light of reafon \ it can no more 
direcl them about the affairs of their fouls, the interefts 
of eternity, than we can furvey the midnight {tars by 
the light of a candle. But faith beholds fpiritual things, 
and takes fteady views of eternal excellencies. With what 
xeluftance do we remember the wicked, who " caufed 
their terror in the land of the living !" and how 
does their memory flink when dead, like the fnuff of that 
extinguimed candle ! And as there is no light, no fpiritual 
illumination in them, fo at death they are driven from 
the light of life, the light of hope, and the light of the 

gofpel, 



Ij6 THE TRAVELLER. 

gofpel, into the darknefs of utter defpair, and into the 
eternal ftcrm and temped of God's devouring wrath. 
And is this the laft, but lamentable end of the wicked ! 
while the righteous, on the other hand, like the morning- 
fun, concealed by the diiking clouds of worldly mean- 
nefs and contempt, mine more and more unto the per- 
fect day, grow from grace to grace, till, fixed in the 
firmament of glory, they mine celeftial funs. Let my 
light, then, be fpiritual, my happinefs that which is here- 
after, and my glory that which (hall be revealed. 



MEDITATION LXXXVIII. 

ON DIVIDING THE SPOIL. 

In all ages of the world, fo great has the joy of -men 
been on this occafion, that it has become proverbial, " as 
men rejoice that divide the fpoil :" and no wonder. To 
come off in fafety from the field of battle, while not 
only foes, but fellow-foidiers fell around them \ and to 
come off victorious, and find themfelves poffeffed of 
goods they never laboured for, of riches they never ex- 
pected, mud fweli their bread with tranfport and joy. 
And this joy of theirs in the fevered manner reprimands 
me for not being filled with more joy in believing, for 
not thinking more of him who is more " glorious and 
excellent than the mountains of prey." Now, though 
the metropolis of this kingdom (the gleanings of whole 
villages create this cheaifulnefs) were robbed of all its 
Wealth, and laid in one heap \ and, to fwell the wonder- 
ful pile, though all the flores of the filken Indies, the gold 

c 
OJ 



THE TRAVELLER. I 77 

of Ophir, and the precious ft ones of every land, were add- 
ed ; yea, to make the collection perfect in its kind, though 
all that ever had a place in the mufeum of the philofo- 
pher, the cabinet of the curious, or the treafures of 
kings, were amaffed together, till the heap rofe into a hill, 
or fwelled into a mountain, from which the flaves might 
gather crowns and fceptres, the poor treafure in abun- 
dance, and the naked fhine in filks and cloth of gold $ 
yet thou art infinitely more excellent than this mountain 
of prey, and that on a double account : I. Nothing here is 
for the foul, all is for the body *, 2. All thefe things 
mull be torn from the pofTeffor in the hour of death, and 
cannot attend him to another world. But Chrift fatisfles 
all defires, replenifhes the whole foul, makes happy in 
time, and happy to eternity, and is a portion every way 
commenfurate to the unbounded wi(hes, and immortal 
nature of the foul. Why fhould the faints lefs rejoice 
than thefe men that divide the fpoil, when m a little the 
king himfelf in perfon (hall deal crowns and thrones, 
kingdoms and dominions, yea, the goodly heritage of the 
hofts of nations, to every faint above ? 

This fpoil, if it enrich the conquerors, impoverifhes 
the conquered, and perhaps has coil many of them their 
lives \ but Chrift may, in all his offices, relations, fulnefs, 
and glory, be the entire poffeflion of every particular 
child of adoption, without diminution or injury to any 
of their happy fellow- heirs. 

Some who engaged the enemy fell down flain, and 
are now where a whole world of thefe trifles, which 
afford furvivors fo much joy, would not be accounted 
worthy of a wi{h or a glance for ever. 

Henceforth, let me rejoice at thy word as one that 
findeth great ftore of fpoil, and efteem the word of thy 

mouth 



I78 THE TRAVELLER. 

mouth better than thoufands of gold and filver. I mall 
never be robbed of the heavenly treafure, which fcatters 
my fears, difpels my defpondencies, enriches my eternity, 
and ravifhes my whole foul. 



MEDITATION LXXXIX. 

A DAILY CATECHISM FOR SEAMEN. 

March 25. 1758. 
t. How do I like the company of the wicked, and the 
converfe of ungodly men f 4 

2. Is their fwearing as difagrecable to me as when I 
came firft aboard ? or am I more reconciled to their 
blafphemous talk ? 

3. Is my abhorrence of fin the greater, the more I fee 
of fin? as a man's fears increafe with the increafe of 
his foes, fo fbould my hatred of fin with the increafe of 
my danger. 

4. The more that I am befet with -fnares and fin, ar& 
I the more watchful againft fins and fnares ? 

5. Have I forgot to look into myfelf in the midft of 
this hurry and confufion ? reflection is a duty which no 
fituation can loofe me from. 

6* Does, the reaction of fin reiterate my grief and 
abhorrence of it ? or, like a lion's keeper, venture I to 
fport with the deftroyer, from which at firft I ftarted ? 

7. Do I refill the fir ft appearance of fin ? for fin, as 
well as ft rife, is like the letting out of waters, which at 
firft appears a little fpout, bat as it paffes along pufhes 
€fU every fide, till it fpreads into an impetuous torrent, 

which 



THE TRAVELLER. I7f 

which nothing can refift, and therefore mould be left off 
before it be meddled with. 

8. Does the impiety of the company, or any other 
hindrance, prevent the performance of fecret prater, or 
reading the fcriptures, as formerly ? 

9. Is the Sabbath ftill ftri&ly obferved by me, by my 
keeping not only from bad actions, but idle words and vain 
thoughts ? 

10. Am I careful to purge myfelf from all the fins 
which I have heard through the day, by reflecting on 
their vilenefs, protefting again ft them in mine' own breaft, 
dipping by faith in the blood of fprinkling, and praying 
that wherein I have been guilty in a greater or lefs de- 
gree, I may be pardoned. 

1 1. Am I ftudious to draw the more near to God, the 
more that all things would drive me from God ? and 
to beg of him, that according to my days and demands 
for aid, fo my ftrength from him may be ? 

I 2. Am I ready to drop a word againft vice, or in 
favour of religion, without regarding lidicule, not 
knowing where a bleffing may light 3 or that at leafl 
they may know that there has been, if not a prophet, 
yet a reprover among them ? 



MEDITATION XC. 

A PROPER INSPECTION. 

Lying off the French Coast, June 8. 1758, 
At all times, men ought to examine their Rate, and 
fitnefs for going into another world \ more efpecially 

when 



ISO THE TRAVELLER. 

^rhen old age has overtaken us, or the peftilence is in 
our borders \ or when called into the field of battle, or 
into the dangers of the roaring ocean. Now, as we 
may be furprifed at any time by fome event, we fhould 
be prepared at all times for every event. And, as one 
ef thefe Situations is at prefent mine, it is my duty to 
propofe fome interesting queftions, to try myfelf there* 
T?y. 

!• Am I content with falvation from Chrift on any 
terms, that he be^ my complete Saviour, and that I be 
nothing at all ? 

2. If I believe, is my faith dead ? or is it a living faith, 
Working by love, and bringing forth the fruits of righ- 
teoufnefs ? 

3. Do I love God ? " He that loveth not, knoweth 
not God, for God is love ;* 1 and love to God and man 
is the fulfilling of the whole law. 

4. Do I love the faints, and efteem the poor but 
pious ones, more than all the pompous fons of vice \ 
** He that loveth him that begat, loveth him alfo that is 
begotten of him.'' 

5. Is it my defire, that in all things God may be glo* 
rlSed, though it were by my di (honour and lofs ? 

6. Do I chufe rather to be the proverb and reproach 
©f all the ungodly among whom I dwell, than to ad' 
^ance one word againfl religion ? 

7. Do I hate fin in its profits and pleafures in myfelf 
and others, becaufe God hates it, and it ruins fouls ? 

8. Do I rejoice more in hope of the glory of God, 
than in view of pofleffing all that the world can afford ? 

9. Is the exercife of religious duties the fecret de- 
light of my foul ? 

10. Do I faithfully flrive againfl: all fin, and count 

the 



TfTE TRAVELLER. l8l 

the victory over one luft a greater conquefl than the ta- 
king a city I 

1 1 . Am I entirely refigned to the will of God itv 
all things, being not only contented, but comforted 
with his difpoial, though fometimes not what I would 
wiih ? 

1 2. Is death often in my mind, judgement and eter- 
nity in my meditation $ and am I always ftudying to be 
mortified to fin, and crucified to the world, that I may 
live to Chrift ? 

13. Is the word of God the light, life, comfort, food, 
and inheritance of my foul, into which I daily feek and 
fearch ? 

14. Is fin growing more and more my burden; and 
are my firuggles after perfection more vigorous than be- 
fore, and more conftant ? 

15. Ami, through grace, ever fearching my way? # 
examining mine actions, looking into my heart, and 
watching over myfelf ? 

16. Is my defire of life moftly to ferve God, and not. 
to enjoy the pleafures of fenfe, but to be ufeful even in 
the matters of religion ? 

17. Is communion with God the delight of my foul ? 
and have I more joy in the fore-thoughts of that frui- 
tion which the faints expect, than in all prefent vani- 
ties ? 

18. Have I daily recourfe to the fountain cf purifi- 
cation to be warned from my filth, and to be accepted 
in the Beloved ? 

19. Do I remember Zion in her affliction, Jerufalem 
in her calamity, being filled with a zeal for the decla*. 
r'ative glory of God ? 

20. Dare I venture my eternal welfare on his gra- 

JQ^ eictrs 



l82 THE TRAVELLER. 

clous word of promife, that whofoever believes in him 
fhall be laved *, and that no fin fhall condemn the foul 
that cafts itfelf on Chrift ? 

21. Do I believe that the love of God is unchangeable, 
that his gifts and calling are without repentance, and 
that at all times he is at hand, nor will defert his own 
in their laft moments ? 

If I could return an affirmative to each of thefe 
queries, it would (hew me to be in a happy ftate, at 
peace with God, and in fome meafure prepared for the ' 
other world, fo that I might go with undaunted cou- 
rage to the day of battle, and fearlefs tread the field of 
blood, leaning on Chrift alone. 



MEDITATION XCI. 

ON A GREAT STORM OF THUNDER, LIGHTNING, 
AND RAIN. 

Lying off France, ^une 9. 1758. 
Dark is the night, but difmal the flam, that fcattefs 
the darknefs. At times the whole heaven feems in a 
blaze, while material ftreams of fire twinkle in our afto- 
niflied eye, and dart acrofs the fkies - y then tremendous 
thunder roars, and whole clouds defcend in heavy rain, 
while the noify wind blows with impetuous force. Now, 
durft the Atheift yet deny a God ? Would not his con- 
feience anfwer to the flames of fire, his troubled 
thoughts agree to the language of the thunder, that 
there is a Power above, that rules events below ? When, 
the night is fo dark, the lightning fo dreadful, the thunders 

fo 



THE TRAVELLER. I Sj 

fo loud, and the rain fo incefTmt, can any afcribe all to 
blind chance ? Nay, the Atheift himfelf muft confefs 
and tremble ? 

But, O fad effecls of fin ! what fills the pious foul 
with fear, and a fecret fenfe of the power and greatnefs 
of God, drives the wicked into fin. They fear, but 
they fwear \ they are troubled, but they tranfgrefs. 
How terrible, then, wilLthat day be, when the Judge 
fhall come in flaming fire, to take vengeance on his 
foes ! when flames fhall dwell in ether, the fkies be 
kindled, and cities, kingdoms, and continents, be cafl 
into the burning embrace ! when thunders burfting 
from every cloud, around the whole iky, admit of no 
interval, but with one continued rear terrify all the 
nations, till filenced and loft in the found of the lad 
trumpet, which the dead, hitherto undiflurbed, fhall 
hear ! 

When fire and water in contention, or elements at 
war, are fo terrible, hew much more terrible muft the 
Gcd of nature be, when, arrayed in awful msjefty, he 
comes to take vengeance on his enemies ? Left we for- 
get his greatnefs, nature preaches to us, raging tem- 
peils and rending winds turn our remembrancers, flames 
of fire unfold cur leiTon before our eyes, and roaring 
thunders awaken our meditations. As in his temple 
every one talks of his glory, fo in his tent, (for which 
he has ftretched out the heavens), every thing fhews 
forth his power. Fire, rain, vapour, ftormy w T ind, light- 
ning, hail, fnow 7 , and thunder, praife him. Then, 
fince in all things I may fee Gcd, may my foul ever go 
out after him, and above all things fee him in the face 
of Jefus, as reconciled, and fpeaking peace to me ! 

CL2 MEDI- 



*$4 THE TRAVELLER. 

MEDITATION XCII. 

ON BEIKG INTERRUPTED IN SECRET PRAYER, 

Lying off France, June 13. 1758. 
Nothing can ftill the gitation of my fpirit, but the 
fore -thoughts of perfect and eternal liberty, into which 
the Ions of God (hall fhortly be delivered. Little 
needs the world without difturb our retired moments } 
there is enough within to diftracl: our meditations. But 
O thrice happy day, which is approaching on the out- 
ftretched wings of the promife, when 1 (hall ftand a- 
mong a numerous throng of adorers, worfhipping before 
the throne, with the eye of my foul fixed on him that 
fits thereon ; and not one of the many thoufands of e- 
ternity {hall difturb my adorations. The eye of my 
mind, the flow of my affection, and the flame of my 
love, (hall eternally fix on the divine object, from whom 
none fhall draw one thought away. Here my circum- 
flance is doubly calamitous \ for, though the bufy 
throng (hould not break in on me, there is a throng c* 
bafe diftracYing thoughts already within me, that will 
not be at reft ; but there, as nothing (hall difturb with- 
out, fo nothing (hall diftra£r, within. Not one trefpaiT- 
ing thought, not one trifling idea, not a moment loft, 
nor one expreffion unbecoming the facred fubjeft, but 
all wrapt to the fublimeft height of ecftafy 5 and every 
adoration of God, who is a Spirit, fhall be in fpixit and 
in truth — ill all be without inter miffion through an inde- 
fatigable immortality, without interruption thiough con- 
summate perfection, without wearying through incon- 
ceivable 



THE TRAVELLER. I 85 

fcivable joy and dtlight, and without end through an 
eternal duration. 



DiTATION XC11L 

02n' THE ARMOUR OF SOLDIERS. J 

Lying off Normandy ^ June 13." 1158. 
I heboid the warlike race, and their glittering 
arms, how well they are accoutred for the field of 
battle, at no lefs than royal expence ; it puts me in 
mind of him who is Prince of the kings of the earth, and 
has an army maintained at much immenfer coft, har- 
niihed with much diviner armour, engaged -in a more 
bloody war, a gain ft more defperate foes, but, fupported 
by Almighty fuer.gth, are kfluved of conqueft and a 
crovn at la ft. 

Row are tfiefe men burdened wifh inftruments of wat 
wherever they go, for a foldier is but a poor raaaY^wiJfch- 
out his arms i Even fo the fpiritu^l foldier mull never be 
without his armour, for the better armed, tire' finds him- 
feif the ftronger. Befides, this is the word of command- 
by the Captain of the Lord's hofts, to his armies : M Put 
on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able> to 
ftand againft the wiles of the devil 3 &rr ye wire file not 
againft flefti and blood, but againft principalities, again 8* 
powers, againft the rulers of the darknefs of this -v. or id, 
againft fpiritual wickednefs III high places. Wherefore^ 
take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may Le. 
^ble to withftand in the evil qay 3 and having done ally. 

0^3 U 



3U6 TEE TRAVELLER. 

t£ ftand. Stand, therefore, having your loins girt about 
with truth, and having on the breaft-plate of righteouf- 
nefs, and your feet fhod with the preparation of the 
gofpel of peace ; above all, taking the fhield of faith, 
•wherewith ye (hall be able to quench all the fiery darts 
of the wicked ; and take the helmet of falvation, and 
the fword of the Spirit, which is the word of God , pray- 
ing always with all prayer and fupplication in the fpirit, 
and watching thereunto with all perfeverance, and 
(not forgetting brother- foldiers) with fupplication for 
all faints." 

But one thing I fee, thefe men are allowed to carry 
no toys or trifles with them, only their arms, ammunition, 
and neceffaries •, fo " no man that warreth 1 ' againrr. hell 
•* entanglejrh himfelf with the affairs of this life, that he 
may pleafe him who hath chofen him to be a foldier." 

Again, .thefe men are only fafe, in letting their face 
always againft their foes, being naked behind ; fo there 
is not a promife in all the fcripture for the faint that 
turns his back before the enemy ; while, if they refift^ 
even their grand enemy (hall flee from them. 

Thefe poor privates^ as well as their commanders, muft 
be in the hotteft battle, encounter all the dangers, and 
perhaps fall in the engagement , but the Captain of our 
Salvation has for us both fought and foiled the foe, fwept 
the field of battle cf principalities and powers, fo that we 
are only called to return to the fpoih 

Finally, how happy are Chrift's foldiers, in comparifon 
of thefe military men ! The one is wounded often t^w 
death, the other is made always to triumph } the one 
has a fcanty allowance every day ; the other has accefs 
to all the fulnefs of God. The one is diibanded at lafr, 
arid fent^ when leaft able, to beg his bread, and die in 

jpoverty ? 



THE TRAVELLER. 187 

poverty • the other (hall at lail receive a crown, and be 
taken to dwell with the King eternal, immortal, invifible, 
for ever ! 

Let the potfherds of the earth drive with the potfherds 
of the earth for earthly things 3 but may I fight on the fide 
of Heaven, againlx fin and hell, for a heavenly crown, 
a crown of glory, that fadeth not away ] 



MEDITATION XCIV. 

AIL THINGS MADE UP IN CHRIST. 

Quiheron Bay^ May 11. 1760% 

Every one Is fubjecl: to fo many lories here, that, ur>- 
lefs he has a (hare in the bank of Hifs, he may foon be- 
come impoverifhed of all his enjoyments, and be 3 
bankrupt as to felicity. But what an enriching privi- 
lege is an intereft in Jefus, whereby I am injured againft 
all lofles, and furnifhed for all misfortunes ! for though 
in the world I may have tribulation, yet in him who> 
overcame the wond, fhall I have joy. If is true, my 
nearer! and dearei! friends may be removed by death * y 
but in him 1 have a ftore of dearer and diviner relatives* 
My riches may fly away as on eagles wings, but in him 
I have the treafures of eternity j fo that it is but for a 
moruent, and in the meaner! things, that I can fuftain any 
lofs. My name may be reproached among men, but 
here is a divine antidote again ft that, that my name is 
■written in the Lamb's book of life, who will confefs it 
before his Father, and before affexabled men and angels* 

My 



iS3 THE TRAVELLER. 

My foul may be troubled, and my miad broken, but m 
him 1 have health and tranquillity for both, for he alone 
giveth quietnefs, and when he giveth it, none can caufe 
trouble. My foul defires much, but in him is more than 
my foul can defire. My wants are great, and my necef- 
fities many, but in Him I find an over- flowing abundance 
that fupplieth all. My fituation for. a time may be 
lonely and deiolate, but in him I find the divineft company, 
the deareft converfe, and in his prefence a paradife be- 
low. Sin and tinners may caufe me daily forrow, but 
in him that faves from both, I have abundant confola- 
tion. The things of this world may ail feem jointly to 
go againit me, but in him the things of the next world 
(hall all affuredly make for me. I may wander from 
one place of the world to another, and be perfecuted 
hither and thither for his fake \ but he^ who is every 
where prefent, mall be ever with me, and nothing (hall 
be able to feparate me from his love* My comforts 
may all fall off, like theblafted bloSorru of the orchard % 
but in him ten thoufand more noble comforts lhall 
fioumh, and never fade nor wither. Every day may 
bring me new difappointments, (and what elfe fhould I 
look for in a periihing world ?) \ but in him I (hall never 
be difappointed, even to eternity. Here infirmity may 
often break off my nobleft exerciies ) but in a little I 
(hall put on the immortality of blifs, and reft neither 
day nor night in his praifes, yet never be weariedr Here 
doubts and darknefs may diftrefs me, but in him is my 
direction and my light. In a woid, I may be a com- 
plication of wants and adverfities, croffes and calamities,, 
difappointments and diftreffes, forrow and concern ; bir¥j 
in a word again, whatever' my exigence can demand', 
jvhatever my foul can defire, is fully, - wholly and bteif* 

nallj 



THE TRAVELLER. 1 89 

nally in him. Therefore, though death In a few moments 
may advance to put a period to my time, and cut mc 
off from the world below, yet then fliali my felicity 
begin, when, to fum up all my blifs, enjoying the fel- 
lowfhip of the world above, I mall for ever be with the 
Lord. 



.MEDITATION XCV* 

THE BIRTH-DAY. 

Quiberon Bay, May 30. 1760. 

The obfervation of nativities fecms to be both ancient, 
and univerfal, but by none more fplendidly kept than 
thofe, who, not attending to the end of their creation, 
have but little reafon to rejoice that ever they were born. 
Of old, a king's birth-day, in its coniequences, coil our 
Saviour's forerunner his head 3 but at many fuch feafts 
now-a-days, the Saviour himfelf is crucified afrefh, and 
put to open (name. 

Surely to be is deiirable, but to be happy is much more 
£> \ and who can claim this, but fuch as remember the 
day of their death oftener than the day of their birth, 
and chufe rather to go to the houfe of mourning than 
the houfe of feafting ? If joy belongs to any on their 
birth- day, furely it is to thofe, who not only know, that 
on fuch a day of the year they become one of the nu*- 
merous family of mankind, but alfo can, by fclid argu- 
ments, and on good grounds infer, that, by the fecond 
birth, they are of the family of the living God. Though 

Job 



>90 THE TRAVELLER. 

Job and Jeremiah, in their anguifh, curfed their day, 
yet when the ftorm paffed over, their fouls returned to 
their quiet reft, and irreprehenfible joy : however, he 
-who only waits for the manifestation of that glorious 
life which has neither change nor end, may, to the praife 
of God, with an exulting breaft, talk in an oppofite 
ft rain : a Let the day profper wherein I was born, and 
the night in which it was faid, There is a man-child con- 
ceived. Let that day be brightnefs, let God regard it 
from above, and let the light thine upon it. Let light, 
and the beaming hope of eternal life, beautify it to me. 
Let ferenity dwell upon it, and the brightnefs of the day 
b a ni(li every gloom from it. As for that night, let the 
beauty of the day be fpread upon it \ let it be joined and 
added as a remarkable day to the days of the year, and 
let it come chief to me among the number of my 
months. Lo, let that night be folemn and fweet, while 
my anthem imitates the fong above, and my foul, or 
wings of faith, mixes with the adoring multitude on 
high." 

There are a variety of arguments againft carnal feaft- 
ing on my birth-day. Had I come into the world laugh- 
ing, I might live feafting, and die rejoicing 7 but as I 
came in weeping, and breathed my firft breathing in 
difquiet and cries, fo it teaches me to live fober, and die 
.ferious. Since we are all born under the curfe, why 
fiich a noify commemoration of that day, when another 
{inner firft burdened the earth, when another rebel againft 
Heaven firft breathed the common air ? But if we are 
to acknowledge it as a mercy that we were born, as 
no doubt it is, yet it is not the way to (hew our grati- 
tude to the Mod High, by pampering periihing clay. 
God will not be praifed over our cups ; then his name is 

often 



The traveller. 191 

often blafphemed. Such a practice is confident in an 
idolatrous Bellhazzar and his gueits, towards gods who 
neither fee nor hear, but he who is a Spirit will be fpiri- 
tually honoured. 

A back-look on my life, may hinder carnal mirth 
on its commencement. Sin and vanity twilling with 
every day of my life, (hould make me confider on my 
birth day with more enlarged views than the fons of # 
fenfe can take, how I have fallen from the noble end for 
which I. was created, how I have finned, and come ihort 
of the glory of God, I who have an immortal foul with- 
in me, that (hall live to eternity. 

One thing, however, I ihculd confider, that fince I 
came into this world, many thoufands of my contempo- 
raries have gone into the unfeen world. The fp reading 
foreil of my acquaintance is fearfully thinned by the 
felling axe of death. It is a chilling thought, that fo 
many of my companions, who lately made a figure in 
the gay world, are now wrapt up in an eternal gloom, 
IMariy of ray fchool- fellows and comrades, of my friends 
and neighbours, are no more $ yea, into my father's 
family, fince I made one of the number, death, though 
not a Granger before, has made five defoliating vifits, 
befides the redoubled blows, that made me fatheilefs 
and motherlefs j and though, in unbounded goodnefs, I 
iurvive, yet all thefe occurrences cry to me, that I alio 
:n a little mull remove, and be no more. 

In this contracted fpan, there are not many now who 
reach threefcore years \ yet, at fuch a calculation, my 
fun is at his height, my day arrived at noon -, and ilia 11 
I not yet put away the follies of youth, when I know 
TiOt but my fun may go down at noon, never more to 
rife ? Then henceforth may I be the man, yea, more, 

the 



X£2 THE TRAVELLER. 

the Chriftian, and fpend every year as ray laft, perfecting' 
holinefs in the fear of the Lord, laying hold on every 
opportunity to do good, obferving the conduct of Pro- 
vidence towards me, and doubling my diligence in the 
duties of religion, And, as I am drawing nearer the 
anfeen world, fo by thinking the oftener on it. I mould 
prepare the better for it. And as noon is fucceeded by 
flight, fo, with loins girt, and lamp burning, I mould 
expect the evening of death, and the coming of my 
great Matter, rather aftoniihed that the fh*dows are not 
iboner ft retched out, than furprifed, as being unprepared^ 
that they axe firetched out fo foon. 



MEDITATION XCVI. 

TIME PAST NEVER RETURNS. 

Under sail, June 16. 1758. 
Foolish man thinks he is born to live to himfelf, and 
that he is lord of his own time to fpend it as he pleafesj 
but, ala« ! he is miflaken, for he mould live to God, 
and fpend his time to his glory. How watchful, then, 
on a double account, fhould I be over my time m y firft, 
becaufe I cannot recal it when pad ^ I cannot bring 
again my childifh years, or fetch back my more advanced 
days. Now, on the fea, I cannot recal the time I fpent 
on land \ nor, when at land again, this time I fpend at 
fea ; yea, I cannot lengthen out the minute, or make 
the pafnng moment Tie to, till I rlnim the fentence. I 
cannot fay to time, as Jofnua once did to the fun, " Stand 
thou fUll," for it is in continual progreffion. The fand- 

glafs 



THE TRAVELLER. 193 

glafs of my life pours down night and day : and though 
the gradual waile items trifling, yet how loon mall the 
laflland be run, and not a dull left ! and then there is no 
turning of the glafs again. 

Secondly, As time cannot be recalled, fo the things 
done in time cannot be disannulled. I cannot undo my 
deeds, unfpeak my words, and unthink my thoughts. 
It would be lefs galling, did time fly off in 2 blank'-; 
but it is full of records, for as it is always on flight, fo 
the foul is never idle, but is at work night and day, 
which we little think of. How would it mitigate our 
mournful reflections, if we could get our wicked deeds 
undone, and our bad aciions annihilated ! b'ut trill they 
are actions once done ; and Hand on record, ro mew 
cither the mercy of Gcd when we are pardoned, or to 
condemn us when we prejudged, I fa id. time pail never 
returns, and fo it never does, for us to mend what we 
have dene amifs: but mifpent time is prefent to torment 
the wicked through eternity. 

Kow Cautious mould I be in (pending time which is 
fa precious, 2nd on which fo much depends! The pail 
is entirely loft, the prefent is on the wing, and the future 
is uncertain. The pair is mine no more, the future never 
may be mine, and the prefent is mine but for a moment. 
In the time pail I can do nothing, as it is already fled } 
in the time prefent I can do little, as it is on the wing ; 
in the time to come, as it lies concealed, I know not 
what 1 may do. So then the prefent breathing, this 
very twinkling, the fmgle moment, and naked noiv, is 
mine without the, leaf! appendix of time part or to come, 
but in reflection on the one, and expectation of the 
other. The prefent only is mine, which, while I ufc 
wafleth, while I pcfTefs pafTeth' away. In a little the 
R angel 



194 TH E TRAVELLER. 

angel (hall lift up his hand to heaven, and fwear, by 
him that liveth for ever and ever, that time (hall b& no 
more. And as pad time never returns, fo the works I 
leave unfiniftied in time, cannot be wrought out in eter- 
nity. The foolifh virgins will find no oil to buy in the 
other world j no acceptable repentance in the pit ; no 
work nor device in the (ilent grave. 

I fee, then, that every moment of time is of great 
confequence to one on whofe time eternity depends. O 
to fpend that well which is fo valuable, till acquitted in 
mercy at the end of time ! Now, as time paffes not to 
return, fo all the things of time pafs, both troubles and 
pleafures, never to return j but to render eternity, in all 
its beatific excellences, a (late of trueft and fublimeft 
happinefs, it is a permanent, present, and abiding dura- 
tion, an eternal now, that knows no after (late, no fu- 
turity, or fucceflion of revolving periods. Then, may 
it be my happinefs, that when time paffes from me never 
to return, an eternity of glory, to confummate my blifs, 
may be prefent with me, never to pafs away ! 



MEDITATION XCVII. 

ON SHIPS STEERING DIFFERENT COUF.SES WITH THE 
3*UVI£ WIND. 

Under sail, *$une 16. 1758. 
It is furpri(ing that one wind (hould carry (hips to 
th« different points of the compafs, even to quite oppo- 

fite 



TH£ TRAVELLER. 1()$ 

Ste points ) but this is owing to the fetting of the fails, 
and (leering of the helm. 

And is it not more furprifing, that the fame wind 
that forwards the faints heavenward, mould drive the 
wicked nearer hell ? If the godly have the fair wind of 
piofperity, then, like Jacob, they confefs their fmallnefs, 
and that God has done all for them j or, like David, 
come and fit before God, and pour out the ebullitions 
of a grateful heart : or if the faints (which is frequently 
the cafe) are toffed with the rough wind of adveriity, 
then they hear the rod, and who kath appointed it, turn 
to him that fmiteth them, and fee that it is good that 
they have be£h afflicted, avowing, with that eminent 
faint, " Though he flay me, yet will I trull in him." But 
the wicked, if full, forget God, and wax wanton - 7 if 
they have no changes, they fear not God ) if. Heaven 
beftows plenty on them/ they confume it on their lulls ; 
nor does adveriity with them mend the matter, for, like 
Ahaz, in their diftrefs they trcfpafs yet more sgainft the 
Lord *) and, like the remnant of the Jews who were 
mad on idolatry, that very fin for which their land was 
laid defolate and their temple burnt, while fuffermg for 
fin, they continue in fin. The fame crucified Jefus is a 
bumbling-block to the Jews, and to the Greeks fooliih- 
nefs, but the power of God, and the wifdom of God, to 
the true Chfiftian. The ordinances of grace foften and 
improve the faints for glory, but harden and prepare the 
finners for wrath. The patience of God leads the one 
daily to repentance, the other to preemption. The 
tenors of the Lord deter the nrfl from finning, but 
drive the lail to defpair. 

Hence they may live together in one houfe, enjoy the 

fame privileges, (hare in the fame common mercies, reft 

R2 . in 



1^6 THE TRAVELLER. 

in the fame tranquillity, and be partakers of the fame 
outward comforts and happinefs } or be vifited with the 
fame trials, walk under the fame crofs, drink of the fame 
cup of adverfity, and fhare the fame afflictions \ and yet 
out of both conditions the one fhall extracl food and 
medicine, the other poifon and death : by either wind 
the one fhall arrive at heaven and glory, the other at 
perdition and woe. 

Hence may I, like the wife mariner, make the beft of 
a contrary w T ind, of crofs difpenfations, and adverfe pro- 
vidences, and, in fpite of oppofition, reach my happy 
port at lafl, having my foul brought into a fubmiffive 
frame to every turn of life and crook of lot that Pro- 
vidence may lay in my way. 



MEDITATION XCVIII. 

ON BEING DRIVEN BACK TO HARBOUR* 

Lying off France, 'June 17. 1753. 
There is an unfeen rotation of circumftances acciden- 
tal to all conditions of life, which we cannot provide 
again ft. Had we known yefterday that we ihculd have 
been driven back to-day, we had not left our itation, 
nor undergone toil, danger, and damage. Even fo, 
how many fruitlefs efforts have the fons of men made in 
purfuit of temporal things, where the people weary 
tbemfelves for very vanity ! So is his fate who fets out 
for happinefs below ; for after a thoufand tackings and 
turnings to the empty creature for fat is faction, iiill the 
wind of vanity and vexation of fpirit, which fpreads over 

the 



THE TRAVELLER. If)*} 

the whole umveife, and blows in the face of every font 
of man, brings him back, with boitferous fqualls, to 
where he firtl fet cut, to fee his folly, and confefs his 
muiake. So mull the Chriftian lay his account to meet 
with croffcs in his courfe, for it is through much tribu- 
lation that we mufT enter into the kingdom. Often in the 
day of darknefs and temped;, the believer is apt to doubt 
his progrefs heavenward, and to think himfelf Hill in 
the port of a natural ft ate ; but as the feaman, that 
would reach his defired haven, however often he be 
blown back, mufi flill put to fea again, fo the Chrifiian, 
whatever fiorms and tempefls roar around him, mud 
flill endeavour to beiieve on his all-fuftlcient Saviour, who 
with equal eafe can fave the (Inner from hell as tbf 
feint from falling away. 

Again, as it is fafer for a fbip in a ftorm to fxand to 
Tea, than make the (here, left me be wrecked upon the 
rocks that lie along", fo every difciplc of Jefus is to con- 
tend earnestly for the faith once delivered to the faint*, 
is to hold fail the form of found words, is to ^yoid luk<s~ 
wannnefs, hypocr'fy, and defection, left thereby he be 
undone for ever. Finally, whatever the feaman does, the- 
Chriitian muft ftill hold >u his courfe through fiormj 
and tempefis till he arrive at the heavenly tLor^e. 



MEDITATION XCIX. 

THE SPIRITS OF JUST MEN MAB£ PERFECT. 

Lying off* Norm andj\ %&ns 1753. 
Maxy are the articles of the heavenly biifs, many are 
joys of the higher houfe, and the fweet feciety and 
R 3 company 



I9S THE TRAVELLER. 

company is no fmall part of the happinefs of the ge* 
neral affembly and church of the firft-born. Where fo- 
briety is fashionable, we too little efteem the faints, thefc 
excellent ones of the earthy but when we are among the 
blackeft fens of vice, we learn to compute othej wife, 
and clearly fee the worth of the faints. Accordingly, 
it is one branch of the bleffednefs of believers, that 
they (hall be brought " to the fpirits of juft men." But, 
as even the godly here-away are apt to be involved in 
contention, debates, and rtrife, and to have corruption 
breaking out now and then in them, which has often 
happened among dear brethren, and in the church of 
Chrift, to the grief of many a heart, therefore it is 
added, " to the fpirits of juft men made perfect." 

Now, if the company of finners, fueh as I live a* 
xriong, be fo difagreeable, how pleafant will the fellow- 
ship of thefe fanctified ones be, in the prefence of the 
great Mailer of the heavenly family ! Here finners are, 
alas ! every where rood numerous \ but then and there 5 
not one finner mall ftand in the great congregation, not 
one wicked perfon in the affembly of the juft. And as 
man, being a focial creature, delights in company and 
converfe with one another, (fo fays the proverb, " As 
iron iharpeneth iron, fo the face of a man his friend,") 
will not the faints kindle in their love to God, from the 
love of one another, by a facred emulation who ill all 
love him moft, who has loved them with an everlafting 
and unchanging love ? Hence am I inftrucled in this 
world whom to chufe as members of my family, even 
as my fervants } and what value to put on thofe who are 
teligious, uSce, amidft all his failings, ftill " the righteous 
is more excellent than his neighbour." 

MEDI- 



THE TRAVELLER. I 99 



MEDITATION C. 

GOING TO ENGAGE, 

Now every thing is preparing to engage the enemy, all 
hands are bufy ; but all fouls are culpably idle, though 
what the event may be none can tell. Carelels of our 
eternal interefts at other times, no wonder we are care- 
lefs at our la ft ! We know not how foon we ill all be in 
the terrors of death, as we are foon to be in the horrors 
of battle. How mocking to fee men unufually merry, 
when rufhing into danger more than common ! To live? 
without faith, and die without fear, is not the character 
of the Chriftian, who rejoices with trembling, and 
knows the terrors cf the Lord. How 7 ftupid never to 
prepare for death, which, whether prepared for or not, 
may foon overtake fome, and in a little will overtake 
all of us. Probably in a few hours, fome of us will be 
arrived at our long heme •, fome difembedied fouls ftand 
before the awful bar ! I fhudder at the thought ! 

Our fympathifing friend- know nothing of our dangerous 
fituaticn in the contending moments, while oceans ruffled 
with ftorm and temper! rage around us, high winds and 
hurricanes roar above us, 2nd the angry foes- pour in 
death on us, with a noife terrible as the thunder, arid 
awful as the lightning. How would our tender parents 
weep and wring their hands, to fee us in fuch danger, 
or in the cold embrace of death ! 

Every thing is toffed down into the holds, that could 
incommode us in theengagement \ fo at death we would 
quit with all the joys of life to live a little longer, and 
muft quit with all to die. Woe to the difputes of nations, 

woe 



ftOO THE TRAVELLER, 

woe to the pride of Kings, that kindles this bloody 
uproar, and calls us all to oar arms !.— But the 



MEDITATION CI. 

ARGUMENTS TO RESIGNATION f . 

June 17. 1759. 

To encourage to fubmiflion and refignation, let me 
- confidet and believe thefe truths, and then fee if I have 
any caufe to complain, be cart down, or fear, 

i. That the juft Lord, who rules in the midft of his 
people, will do i»o iniquity. 

2. That he loves his faints with a love more indul- 
gent, and every way more excellent, than they can 
have for themfelves. 

.3. That when he removes a comfort, or caufes fome 
of our bleffings wither, like Jonah's gourd, our fouls 
would receive greater damage by their being continued 
with us, than by their being cut off from us. 

4. That when any affliction is fent, we would be 
greater lofers by going without it, than by groaning un- 
der it. 

5. That whatever befals us, if we belong to God, 
both his glory and our good fhall thereby fooner or later 
be advanced. 

6. That 

1 The Author appears to have been interrupted by the com- 
mencement of the a&ion. 

f While the Author was in the utmoft parts of Europe, his 
nearefi friend died eight days before writing the above, which he 
was informed of fome months after in England. 



THE TRAVELLER. 201 

6. That no changes in the world can alter his love 
towards us, in which he refts. 

7. That it is not fafe to have what God thinks fit to 
take away, or to efcape what he is pleafed to impofe 5 
therefore filence becomes us, whether Providence re* 
nove our relations or other joys, or heap troubles on us. 

8. That as God new fees, fo we ourfelves ihall, one 
time or other, fee and confefs, that all thefe afflictions 
which befel us in the world, were highly necefiary for 
preparing us for the everlafting kingdom. 

9. That whatever affliction takes from us, or what- 
ever bitter draught it puts into our hand, ilill there is 
enough in God to make up the lofs of the one, and 
overcome the bitternefs of the other. 

10. That it is better to get afflictions with a bleffing, 
than mercies with a curfe *, as Ifrael had their flefh in 
the wildernefs with a vengeance, and their requeft 
granted, but leannefs fent into their foul. 

11. That it is not fafe to contend with God, noi? 
quarrel the divine conduct, which cannot err. 

1 2. That fubmiflion and reiignaticn in all things, and 
at all times, to the divine difpofal, is our indifpenfiblfc 
duty. 

13. That God, out of what at prefent feems the 
greater! evil, can bring the greateft good, and often 
turns our forrow into finging. 

14. That befides the good which accrues to us here 
from afflictions, they work for us, by the divine bleff- 
ing, a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory> 
while we look not at the things which are ieen, being 
convinced they are pafling, but at the things which are 
not feen, being confident they are permanent and eter- 
nal. 

MEDI- 



102 THE TRAVELLER* 

' MEDITATION CII. 

SAINTS HAVE NO CAUSE TO COMPLAIN. ' 

Dec. 24. 1760. 
"Thou art ever with me, and all that I have is- 
thine," is a privilege which may compcfe the believer's 
breait. in the moil gloomy days, and amidfl the mofl dif- 
treffing viciffitudes of lor \ for in this promife, which is 
fweeter than honey, and the honey-comb, the ear of 
faith may hear God fpeaking thus, " Believer, can ft 
thcu for ftiame look fad, or grudge the temporal happi- 
nefs of any, who hail the treaiures of eternity referved 
for thee ? Neither ihould it vex thee too much, that 
thy fituation is not fuch as thou wouldft in a tranfient 
world, feeing thou art ever to be with me, where all 
my perfections (hine, and all my glory beams fourth." 
O how happy, then, are the faints of God, who may 
put on a cheariul countenance even in the general con- 
flagration \ and if fo, how much more under a few dis- 
appointments which are fent for wife ends, and redound 
to their fpiritual good in the iiTue. In veiled with this 
celeftial charter, well may we fmile, though all nature 
frown, and triumph, though sn angry world rage. By 
this we dwell in the fun- beam, and walk in endlefs 
light'*, ncr need be greatly troubled at the lofs of all 
things. But what do I fay ? For how can the heirs of 
God, and joint- heirs with Chriit, lofe any thing at all I 
The thief only removes his flolen goods from one place 
to another : how, then, can be that fills heaven and 
earth be ftolen ? Ah I cruel unbelief only attempts the 

ho?iid 



THE TRAVELLER. 20J 

Wrid facrilege to Real Chrift from the heart, hut fuch 
a promife as this bids defiance to the monfter *, and while 
we expect its full accompliihment, (nor let the time 
feem long), the day dawns, which ends the dark night 
of our finning and fuffering, and tranflates us to the 
realms of blifs, where — but eternity only can declare 
what it is to be with him, whofe prefence makes a hea- 
ven, and whofe love is better than life j and what it is 
to enjoy all the fulnefs of the Godhead, as far as glori- 
fied creatures can. 



MEDITATION CIII. 



APPROACHING FhUITIOX, 



Hamoaxe, Dec, 28. 1760, 
Still, my foul, in fpite of all thy fears, remember 
that the day-fpring of eternity knows its plr.ee, and will 
appear at the appointed time. Sin's gloomy night is far 
i'pent, and the morning drawing near, when ail the thick 
(hades will diffolve in endlefs light. A few revolutions 
will bring the longed-for day, when he (hall appear 
without fin unto falvation. A general fhout ihall wel- 
come his fecond coming, and united hallelujahs attend 
the triumphant Judge (when fin and miners are no 
more) to the higheft heaven, where the blifs of faints 
and angels is complete, without the kail fhadew of 
change. O how fweet the warbl'ngs of celefiial fong, 
how fair the beauties of eternal noon ? and how divine 
the glories of the throne ! 

What 



204 THE TRAVELLER. 

What muft the promifed land be in the eternal poffef- 
fion, when the account of the two faithful fpies, faith and 
hope, backed by the divine record, is fo ravifhing ! Crea- 
tion can fcarcely furnirti fine enough materials for com- 
parifon, much lefs for our blifs itfelf. There gold is but 
the dull of our feet, pearls the gates of our city, and 
gems the foundations of our walls, The fun is an extin- 
guished taper in the diviner blaze of glory. The ftream 
and tree of life at which we feed, continue us immortal. 
But all this is only the index of our happinefs, for God 
reveals himfelf to every glorified faint in ways not 
known before, and then what tranfport fills the foul, 
what floods of pleafure rife, and deluge every power of 
mind ! O how (hall I lie diffolved in ecftafy through 
love's eternal day ! But this abundance of joy mail not 
have the effecT: it has on earthen veflels here, to crack 
and crufh them, but (hall flrengthen all my inward man, 
that I may praife like angels, and love like feraphim, 
What raptures (hall arife from that intimate communion. 
my foul mail then enjoy with God, though now my 
words cannot exprefs it, and my thoughts cannot con- 
ceive of it ! Then there mall not be the lead remains 
of fin in my foul, not a wandering thought, which now 
at my beft times troubles me, nor a frown in the coun- 
tenance of God, and therefore no more grief or forrow. 
Then I (hall fear him out of the purer! love, ferve him, 
and not be afraid ; approach and come clofe to his 
throne, and yet not be accufed of prefumption. I mail 
fee him, and not die, and enjoy the neareil and fweetefl 
fellowfhip with him for ever, without being in danger 
of a w T ound from fpiritual pride. Then will God in 
very- deed dweJl with men,_ and in men ; and then, O 
how full Ihall my foul be of God, and how fatisfied 

with 



THE TRAVELLER. 205 

with the fociety of the heavenly inhabitants ! God 
damped on every foul, dwelling in every breafl, pofieff- 
ing every thought, the fubjecl of every fong, and the 
object of all our love, renders the whole celeilial mul- 
titude nappy, extremely and eternally happy ! 



MEDITATION CIV. 

INFINITE AND ETERNAL PROPER/TIES OF THE BLISS 
ABOVfc. 

Jan. 4. 17-51. 
Had I but one moment's glance of the glorious, though 
created fun, which, while I began to gaze, were 'con- 
cealed, ne rT er to be feen again, fuch a view would only 
kindle an anxious cuiiofity, but not fatisfy one longing 
defire *, even fo, a patting glimpfe of the celeilial glory 
would only let on edgc^ but never fatisfy the holy ap- 
petite of the heaven-born foul. There is an immorta- 
lity in my foul, and there is an eternity in my portion. 
Vail are the demands of the renewed mind, fuch as the 
whole creation cannot fatisfy $ but in God's facred fu- 
per-abundance, in his infinite fulnefs, there is enough 
and to fpare. .What divine harmony in all refpe&s takes 
place above ! God, the enjoyment of whom is paradife 
and blifs, is infinite^ and every faculty of the foul is ca- 
pacitated, in the higheft degree, to enjoy much of God 5 
and our divine communion and fellowfhip alfo is eternal* 
What keeps the worldling in perpetual anguitti, but be- 
caufe his portion here is neither complete nor perma- 
nent ? Yea, what would the blifs- above be, if either 

S Infinity 



206 THE TRAVELLER. 

injinity or eternity could be feparated from it ? for what 
would avail the poffeilion of crowns and kingdoms, nay, 
of more fubftantial blifs, if but for a moment r and what 
would perpetuity itfelf profit, if fpent but in gazing on 
a glow-worm, or enjoying a circumfcribed good ? Well, 
but it is otherwife here j for when wafted to the higher 
houfe, to the heaven of heavens, I (hall find myfelf in 
the midfl of ineffable glories, and plunged among in- 
finite beatitudes, and all the unbounded emanations of 
a Deity, whofe every perfection may through endlefs 
ages employ the whole multitude of glorified admirers,. 
But w T hile his eternal excellencies pofTefs my ravifhed 
powers, and all his goodnefs paiTes before me, how w r ou!d 
my finite mind be pained that I can comprehend fo 
little of this almighty all, if not comforted on the other 
hand with this, that I mall go on, and grow in know T - 
jng God through eternity ! O eternity, eternity ! how 
much {hall my foul know of God before ten thoufand 
years are fpent! and yet thefe cannot diminilh the eternal 
duration one moment ! And, as my portion, even after 
all that I (hall have feen, adored, and enjoyed, will remain 
full and overflowing, being infinite j fo the time of 
povYeiTion, communion, and enjoyment, even after ages 
of blifs are elapfed, will always continue the fame, being 
eternal. 



MEDI- 



THE TRAVELLER. 20} 



MEDITATION CV. 



BAD COMPANY. 



Hamoaxe, January 11. 1751. 
Sometimes our fituation may be folitary, our friends 
being cut off from us by death, or we from them by 
diftance > or our company may be fuch for a while as 
that the fafety of our fouls forbids us to converfe with it. 
It i: become cuftomary with us to complain of this, and to 
cry out for the communion of the faints ; and indeed it 
mufl be owned, that as iron fharpeneth iron, fo doth the 
face of a man his friend. Yet, if grace is at work to find 
God in every circumitance, even this prejudice may be 
turned into a fpiritual advantage ) for, alas ! I may fondly 
meet with my friends, and freely talk with them, and 
yet Chrift have little of the converfation, though the 
kind Author of our blifs mould often be the fubjed of 
our difcourfe \ but when my company is fuch that I 
fhun to lit with them, then I dwell alone, and feek after 
communion with God himfeif ) and while faith gets a 
view of his divine love, and dazzling perfections, I can 
never want matter for meditation. 

Thus the right improvement of a crofs, which in itfelf 
.is heavy and afflicting, even fojourning in Mefech with 
the fons of confummate folly, may produce the greatefi 
bleSng, even communion with the Moft High. And, 
though I am not to expect a voice from heaven to carry 
on a dialogue with me, yet, by his Spirit fpcaking in the 
fcriptures, and breathing on my foul, I may converfe 
with God, and talk of the glories of the world to come. 
S 2 Yea, 



2c8 THE TRAVELLER. 

Yea, this fituation r though in itfelf mournful, is not bar- 
ren of ufeful inftructions \ for IJearn, I, What a pleafant 
place the church and Zion of God is, where faints may 
talk together of redeeming love, till their hearts burn 
within them, 2. That the expectants of the better 
country are too fhy to tell to one another what God 
hath done for their fouls, that all may give him praife. 
3. That one Ghriftian is readier to receive hurt from the 
w T crldly and carnal difcourfe of another, than from the 
belchings of the profane j for this drives him to God, 
but the other, though not to his profit, gains upon him 
by its feeming innocence. 4. That no confufion or 
confinement can hinder the rightly-exercifed foul from 
walking at large in the promife, and with God. I may 
have neither field nor garden to walk into, and yet 
walk over the fields of blifs, and take a tour through 
the paradife of God *, my iituation may, in a great 
roeafure, forbid the uie of my voice in my devotions, yet 
I may cry and be heard in the higheft heavens. 5. To 
admire and adore the goodnefs of God that turns all 
things to the believer's advantage, who, when aflbciated 
with men that feem incarnate devils, may entertain 
heavenly meditation, and maintain communion with the 
God of angels. 6. To put a proper eflimate on the 
faints ; to chufe all the members of my family of fuch r f 
and to be ready to break off other themes, and begin the 
divine fubjecl among them. And, 7. To look forward 
to that day when the wicked mall fall off round about 
us, as the falling leaves from a frofl-bitten tree, and we 
fhall rife to dwell among glorious angels, and perfected 
faints, where we (hall talk of him and to him for ever, 
and not a wretch break in to mar cur deareit, our 
divined theme. 

MEDI- 



THE TRAVELLER. 20p 



MEDITATION CVI. 

ON GOING BEYOND THE LINE. 

Plymouth Sound) March 14. 1761. 

Commanded by our Sovereign, with chearfulnefs we 
kave our native land, and purfue our courie through 
raging and extenh've oceans, to unknown climes abroad, 
though we may meet with enemies, be overtaken with 
difeafes, and mud pant beneath a (torching fun. Why 
then, O my foul ! afraid, at thy heavenly Sovereign's 
command, to pafs the line of time into the wide ocean 
of eternity, and unknown worlds above, feeing thou halt 
his divine promife for thy protection in the hour of death, 
and the fure hope of a non-fuch friend before thee, who 
is Lord of all the unknown regions of glory ? 

The faint fhould even rejoice in the profpecl of death, 
which turns out to his immenfe, his everlafting gain f 
for here he may have little or nothing, there is his 
inheritance \ here he may be an exile, there he is at 
home 3 here a ft ranger, there among his friends \ here 
often mourning without the fun, but there eternally 
with God. 

One, from the large quantity of ftores and provifions 
of all kinds which is brought aboard, might well con- 
clude we were not defigned for Channel-iervice, but for 
fome diftant part of the world : O ! then, feeing I have 
fuch a long voyage before me, and muft live in worlds 
to come, how is my foul provided ? what have I in hand, 
what have I in hope ? have I the promife, and Chrift in 
the promife in hand ? and its full accomplifhment in the 
S 3 full 



aiO THE TRAVELLER. 

full enjoyment of him in hope ? Were I only to coafl on 
the fhores of time, die like the beafts, and be no more, to 
be unprovided would not be a crime. But to launch 
into eternity without the provifion proper for an im- 
mortal foul, is more defperate madnefs than for (hips 
to fail to the fartheft Indies without bread, wood, and 
•water; 

It aitecls me a little to go abroad, and not know if 
ever I (hall return to my native land, or fee a friend I 
have in life 5 but faith's enlarged view fball diffipate the 
gloom, for the fun mines as brightly on the other ride 
of the line as this ; the liars twinkle alike richly in all 
quarters \ and heaven, furrounding the whole globe, is 
alike near to all places \ yea, God being every where 
prefent, he that lives in him cannot be divided from 
him, or die out of him, by diftance from his country 
and his friends, but at the hour of diffolution Hi all go 
to be for ever with rhe Lord, where he fhail be allowed 
the nearer! approaches, and moft intimate communion? 
with him that dwells in light inacceflible and full o£ 



MEDITATION CVH. 

ON A POPISH PROCESSION, TO PREVENT THE RETURN 
OF AN EARTHQUAKE. 

Madeira, April 2. 1 761. 
Of all curies thofe that are fpiritual are mofl terrible \ 
and none more difmal than to be given up to ftrcng 

delufions 



THE TRAVELLER. 21 E 

delufions to believe a lie. Do thefe men think that the 
.Deity is like children, pkafed with pomp, and novelty, 

and (how ? When the power of religion decayed in the 
foul, it came more and more into bodily exercifes 
which profit Jittle, and into- external forms and farces- 
Will a few boys, creeping on their hands and feet, beiore 
you through the ftreets, make the heart-fearching God 
believe you are truly humbled r do ye fubftitute the 
walking bare- footed along a (tony cauiey, in the room o£ 
walking with God by faith ? imagine ye to avert divine 
wrath bv gently whipping your naked bodies ? or are 
fuch touches cf the rleih equal to a real forrbw for, and 
turning from fin ? Think ye God has ceafed to be a fpirit, 
and no more demands to be worfhipped in fpirit and in 
truth, but, like the idols of old, with the fooleries o£ 
men ? Are the graces of the Holy Ghoft converted into 
bodily geilures ? and can your being veiled in a mourn- 
ful manner deceive him who ieeth through the thick 
darknefs ? Think ye, the carrying a piece of wood, in 
the form of a crofs, through your ci:v ? will awe the earth- 
quake into eternal filence ? or will God look down 
propitious on the image of your faint and pstronefs, 
which ye have made, in breach of his own exprefs com- 
mand ? Our bleflings muit come through his hands that 
fuffered on the crofs, and for his fake,, but w T e muft ex- 
pec! nothing from the crofs itfelf. Of old the doctrine of 
the crofs was foolifhnefs to Jews and heathen Greeks \ 
but now the crofs, while its divine doctrine is dropped^ 
is very folly among nominal Chriftians. 

Now, if God, who has another time to judge, (hould ? 
in his general forbearance and common mercy, not fend 
a fecond fhock ? how will they be perfuaded of the pre- 
valency of their proceftion, and thus be hardened in 

their 



212 THE TRAVELLER, 

their fuperflkion and deluiion ! O with what fervour, 
for it is the interefl of Chrift ; with what conftancy, for 
fouls are precious \ with what tendernefs, for they are 
our fellow- creatures and brethren, mould all the reform- 
ed churches pray for the deitruclion of the man of Jin , 
and the fall of Babylon, that nations who have nothing 
but (hadows for fubrlance, rites for religion, and the in- 
ventions of men for the doctrines of truth, may walk 
in the light, and enjoy the liberty of the glorious gofpel ! 
But fhall I forget the fpecial favour of Heaven to 
me ? for it was not by chance that I was born in a Pro- 
led ant land, but by the good will of him w?ho hath 
determined the times before appointed, and the bounds 
of the habitation of every individual under the fun. 



MEDITATION CVIIL 

SAILING IN THE TORRID ZONE. 

April 11. 1761. 
What extremes are found on this little ball that is 
hung upon nothing ! Here nations tremble among moun- 
tains of ice, and deluges of fnow \ there kingdoms pant 
under a fcorching fun, and breathe in a fultry air \ while 
others (though perhaps not better pleafed with their 
fituatioo than the former) have but a moderate degree 
of either. It fares the fame way with the rational 
world as it does with the terreftrial globe j here fome 
live in chilling penury, there others wanton in enfeebling 
luxury and wealth, while feme have the golden mean, 

the 



THE TRAVELLER. 21^ 

the defirable fufficiency, and yet, like the inhabitants of 
the temperate zone, are icarce content with their fitua- 
tion, or thankful for the mercies of 'their lot. The 
inhabitants of one country think that another country 
abounds with the plenty of the univerfe j but he that 
tries all, finds a deficiency in each. But whatever 
difference there be among men* with refpect to the 
bounds of their habitation, furely the whole world dwell 
either under Sinai's tremendous thunderings, or Zion's 
peaceful voice. The fituation of the one is terrible, but 
of the other triumphant. And what is awfully furpri- 
fing, is, that though the thunders are both loud and 
long, yet, being afleep in fib, they hear them not, and fo 
Lie is their it ate, till the terrors of death rouze every 
organ to be, with the deepelt anguifh, attentive to 
the everlatling thunderings of an avenging God. But 
the Jiill fmall voice ) being accompanied with divine power, 
fpeaks into the very hearts of thofe, who, by believing 
on the Mediator of the new covenant, are come to the 
heavenly Mount Zion. 

A warm fun, and a bright d?.y, are big words among 
the northern nations, who have often a cioudy fky, a 
fhort noon, and a Jong cold night* So affluence and 
plenty are words of a big meaning to them whom poverty 
follows, and from whom pity iiies ; but it is better to 
ftruggle with lories and crofies, if fo the graces of the 
foul be kept alive, than to lie on a bed of down, 
fall afleep in carnal iecurity, and never more awake. 
It is dangerous to fwim in hot feas where (harks, or 
along -mores where alligators devour ; and doubly fo 
to wallow in wealth and eafe, where lulls and Satan 
deitroy. 

The European beauty would not exchange her fair face 

with 



214 THE TRAVELLER, 

with a fwarthy complexion, for all the treafures of the 
fcuth j and mould the Chriftian, who is all glorious 
within, chufe a condition that may caft a blemiih on his 
better part, like Jefhuron, who, when he waxed fat, 
kicked \ and in his greatnefs forgot him that made him 
great I More venomous creatures crawl in thofe coun- 
tries which never felt a cold day, than in fuch as an- 
nually feel a pinching winter. So, generally fpeaking, 
more corruptions (pride, luit, carnal fecurity, wrath, 
&c.) abound among fuch as are finely clothed, and fare 
famptuouily every day, than among thofe that lit down 
to one meal, and know but little how to provide the 
next. 

But again, are the diftant beams (for even under the 
meridian line the fun is millions of miles remoi'ed from 
us) of a burning mountain, or a meafureable world of 
fire, fo exceffively hot and fcorcbing ? then what muft 
the wrath of the Almighty be ? Though all the iky were 
full of fcorching funs, they could convey no idea of thy 
terrible indignation. Who, then, can defcribe thy 
terrors, or the fiercenefs of thy wrath \ immenfity can 
only meafure its extent, and eternity its duration \ well 
then may it awe a finite worm into filence, — « 



MEDITATION CX. 

UNDER THE DIRECT MERIDIAN. 

Lat: 0. W. Long* 9. April 16. 1761. 
Stretching towards the fouth, we are at lafl arrived 
at the true meridian, where our eyes need not travel 

through 



THE TRAVELLER. 21$ 

through fpacious ikies, or journey towards the chambers 
of the fouth, to find the glorious lord of day; feeing from 
the fummit of the ikies he (hoots down his perpendicular 
beams, and gives the brighten 1 day. This appearance 
would look ftrange in the northern iiles, and therefore 
invites to fome meditation. Then, as one that is always 
failing to the fouth, though fometimes he may be over- 
taken with calms, or contrary winds, yet fooner or later 
will reach the line; fo the Chrillian that iteers his courfe 
heavenward, though he may have many heavy obfxruc- 
tions, from without, and from within, as the contrary 
winds of ftrong temptation, the burfting fqualls of inbred 
corruption, and the no lefs dangerous calms of fpiritual 
iloth and carnal fecurity, mall, in fpite of all, reach 
the meridian of glory. Indeed, the poor failor may 
perifh before he can come to his port ; but the believer, 
having his anchor within the vail, though earth and hell, 
and remaining fin, the worft of all the three, often threat- 
en his ruin, (hall fafely arrive at the haven which he 
defires to fee, and then (hall he remember the perils of 
his paffage, and dangers of the fea, only in grateful fongs 

to his divine Deliverer. 

« 

Never was I apparently fo near the fun as now, and 
yet never did the fun feem fo high above me : So it is 
with the Chriftian; the more he knows of God, and the 
nearer he is permitted to approach to his throne, God is 
the higher in his efteem, and the more glorious in his 
adoring eye, while he is the lower in his own fight, yea, 
ready to fink into nothing while admitted to unclouded 
views of the divine Majefty. And this, and this only, 
is the defirable fituation below, when the foul, in deep 
humility, adores the high and lofty One who inhabits 

eternity, 



2l6 THE TRAVELLER. 

eternity, wholly emptied of himfelf, and fully repleniihed 
' with God. 

Again, only under the meridian can I fet my face every 
way, and look up and fee the fun, becaufe he mines 
ftraight above my head, and all in the fame latitude 
fhare the fame amazing noon \ fo in the land of glory 
fhall the Sun of righteoufnefs mine in all the brightnefs 
of his uncreated beauty, into every foul, and be no more 
a rifing, a fetting, or a clouded fun, but eternally dwell 
In the full view of all his numerous adoiers. The Deity, 
in his moil ample revelations, in his moft fatisfying 
manifeftations, fhall fill all the higher houfe \ yea, every 
entranced adorer fees God in one another, for feraphinis 
and cherubims fl ame in his brightnefs \ angels and 
archangels ring and fhout in his day, and all the faints 
fhine in his fimilitude. Nothing is there (for the fear- 
ful and final feparation has taken place, O tremendous 
day !) but God and goodnefs, but innocence and peace, 
but fanclity and joy, but harmony and fong, tranfport 
and delight, love and illumination. 

Here our bright day has an enfeebling influence, and 
our high fun- beams almoft infufferably hot \ but there 
(Oh! fhall fuch an one as 1 be ever there ?) I (hall baik 
in his noon-day beams, and ihare the effulgence of his 
inconceivable divinity, yet not diffolve into inactivity 
and death, but thereby be invigorated for the whole 
iafk of an eternal adorer ! 

r 

Is this globe of light, and ball of fire, fo amazingly 
majeftic, that heathen nations have given him divine 
honour, as a God ? then how incomprehenfibly great, 
how ineffably glorious muft Jehovah be, whofe bare word 
fpake fuch a beauty into being ! and is my eternal noon 
to be by the brightnefs of his prefence, the emanations 

of 



THE TRAVELLER. ' 21' 



©f his love, and the glory of his power ? yea, is even 
Jehovah himfelf to be my light and day, my life and 
blifs, my porticn and fong ? what then though fome few- 
dark nights intervene, fince this day is on the wing, 
when my views mall all be bright, becaufe in his light I 
(hail fee light clearly ? O thefe tranfporting, thefe tranf- 
forming views, that (hall for ever entertain every en- 
quiring, enlarged faculty of foul ! Henceforth let my 
foul dw T ell by faith in endlefs noon, till over all my 
fhades this endlefs noon prevail. 



MEDITATION CXI. 

'UNDER THE MERIDIAN,, THE SUN AND MOON HIGH. 

N. Latitude 5°. 35'. April 19. 1761. 
When the ft any heavens engaged my attention in the 
northern climes, many of their bright inhabitants, ?nd 
the moon herfelf, feemed low to me , but here, under the 
meridian, not only the fun but the moon in her proper 
hour pofleifes the fummit of the fky, and the bright 
beauties w T hich feemed to be in fome depreffed flation, 
partake in the fame exaltation. Now, is not this a lively 
picture of that happy and triumphant flate that the 
militant church (hall be exalted to at lad ? Chrift is 
afcended up on high, not for himfelf, (for at God he is 
over all bleffed for ever), but as our reprefentative, arid 
in our name, that where he is there we maybe alfo r j 
and as his Father has a feat on his throne for his belov- 
ed Son, fo has the Son promifed that luch as overcome 

T {hall 



21 8 THE TRAVELLER. 

{hall fit with him in his throne : yea, every faint fliall 
partake of his Redeemer's glory, for if we fuffer with 
him, we (hall alio reign with him - ? and if we confefs him 
before an abandoned world, he will alio confefs us before 
affembled men and angels. 

Then, although the moon fuffer an eclipfe, it is not 
to be thought that a planet is 'deftroyed, for lhe ihall 
yet reflect many a bright beam, and, to fome parts of 
the world, run in an elevated orbit •, fo it is with faints 
in particular, and the church in general, they may be 
both low and little in the account of carnal men, but 
they are not the lefs noble in themfelves, nor of fmaller 
account with God. The certainty of this exalted (late 
may well fupport us under the deepeft abafements, for 
becaufe he lives we fhall live alfo, and every member 
ihall rejoice with his glorified Head. What though the 
faints now fuifer under diverfified trials, like the inhabi- 
tants of the frozen north, who have only a peep of day 
through the whole winter, but are ha raffed with one 
burft of terapefts, one covering of fnow, and one field 
of ice j fince they may look a little forward, and fee them, 
felves placed in thefe happy regions where their divine 
Sun iheds eternal neon, and makes them mine forth as 
$ars in the kingdom of their Father ! 



MEDITATION CXII. 

A SQUALL OF RAIN, LIGHTNING, AND THUNDER, 

April 20. 1761. 
The other day, wh^n the meridian fun brightened a 
cloudlefe iky with amazing effulgence, and all round 

about 



THE TRAVELLER. 21$ 

about was light and beauty, I did not dream that fuch 
a tremendous night would fo foon enfue. The winds 
blowing with amazing vigour, the difquieted ocean roar- 
ing beneath, the glaring lightnings flaihingover the whole 
heaven, the broken clouds pouring out floods of water, 
and the rolling thunders echoing the majefty of the 
Eternal through the confcious void, make up the awful 
fcene. So trouble and difappointment will often break. 
in on the moft beautiful profpeft of fublunary felicity, 
and raife a hurricane amidft the mod perfect galnw 
Hence, we mould learn, amidit the pofTefllon or expecta- 
tion of any created blifs, or temporal good, to hold all 
we have or hope for, at the kind hand of the Sovereign 
Difpofer of all things, of whcfe conduct none of his faints 
could ever yet complain. 

Again, if the lead conteft among the elements pro- 
duce fuch dreadful effecls, how terrible muft the fiate 
of fmners be, who wage eternal war with heaven, and 
(hall have the arrows of the Almighty within them, the 
pcifon whereof drinketh up their foul ! 

No place or latitude can at times boaft of fo delight- 
ful a day, but at other times no place undergoes a 
more difmal night *, fo let churches in general, and 
faints in particular, fland in awe to fin, and beware of 
pre fuming on their privileges, faying, The temple of 
the Lord, the temple of the Lord are thefe, and, We 
have Abraham to our father; for of all people none are 
more feverely punilhed than thofe that he has made ap- 
proach nearefl to him : " You only have I known of all 
the families of the earth, therefore will T punim you for 
all your fins." Capernaum, that was lift up to heaven, 
is threatened to bethruft down to hell, for abufing thefe 
lingular bleffings: and Jerufaiem, the beloved city, whi- 

T z ther 



220 THE TRAVELLER. 

flier reforted the chofen tribes, where flood the holy 
temple, and where God was ferved, and manifefted his 
glorious prefence, yet for her fins, oftener than once had 
it done to her as it had not been done under the whole 
heaven. 

Woe, then, a triple woe, to the poor apoftate, who has 
once tailed of the good word of God, and has been 
made partaker of the Holy Ghoft, and tailed of the 
heavenly gift, and the powers of the world to come, 
when he falls from God, anjl falls into his hands as an 
offended, angry, and avenging judge 1 Oh ! with what 
care mould he that thinks he .Hands look to his ways 
that he may never fall ! 

This heavy rain reminds me of the deluge ; the fire 
and thunder, of Sodom's overthrow. The firft (hews 
me how the old world periihed, the laft how this world 
(hall be deftroyed. The bellowing wind proclaims 
(hip-wreck to the failor, and the fudden fquall bids me 
be always ready for the worft event, and the whole 
fcene fummed up together preaches to me the goodnefsj, 
die power ^ and providence of God. 



MEDITATION CXIII. 

EMULATION, 

S. Latitude 16°. IV. longitude 26°. May 10. 1761. 

It was a faying of Mofes the man of God, when one 
told him that two men prophefied in the camp, " En-- 
vyefl thou for my fake ? would to God all the LorcPs 

people 



THE TRAVELLER. £21 

people were prophets." The holy man took it not amif9 
that others had of the fame fpirit he had, to perform the 
fame functions, and ihine in the fame character. What 
a ihame is it, then, that the faints and fons of God fhould 
envy one another for the excellencies of their gifts and 
graces ! If God be greatly glorified by any, ihculd I be 
greatly difpleafed that it is not by me ? (hall I contend 
with God about his distribution of b^efiings, and begrudge 
his liberality to any more than myfelf ? Does one mini- 
it er darken another in preaching, or one faint e::cei an- 
other in prayer? who of Chilli's fervants can be darkened 
if their Mailer fhine ? or who of his faints will not blels 
him for his croodnefs to others as well as to tbemfelvest 1 

It is as bale to be peevitli becaufe of the excellencies 
of other?, as to be proud of our own. Our great, Our 
univerfal ftruggle ihould be to fet up God en high, and 
our great joy ihould be to fee him fet on high, whoever 
be the happy inftrurne-nt. Ah, how bafe to bow the ear 
to vulgar applaufe, and liiten to, or lull after, emptv 
fame ! In the natural body, is the one hand affronted 
that the other hand wears the fignet or the ring ? and 
among David's worthies, were the thirty chagrined that 
they did ngt attain to the fir it three ? then why ihould 
faints, and the fervants of God, envy for one another's 
fake ! Surely, it is rare to have lingular gifts and graces, 
and not know of it m y and it is almofi impciiible to know- 
it, and not be puffed up in a greater or leiTer degree. O 
w ? hat a degree of humility mould the fpiritual worthy 
pray for, left at any time he be puffed up ! Should the 
fervant of Jefus take it ill rhat hearers flock move after* 
others than himfelf, feeing it i% at lead ihould be,, (till 
Chrift they a.re running after ? , can it vex him. if he 
fpeak in iincerity, becaufe. forne are matters of more tlo» 
guence' than he ? 

T 3 O 



£22 THE TRAVELLER. 

O for that noble difpolition of minding the things 
of others as well as mine own, and blefling God with 
cheaifulnefs for the lingular gifts of others whereby 
he is glorified, which mould be my whole aim, as 
well as for mine own ! Let others excel in letting 
thee up on high, though thou fhouldft always rerufe 
my fervice. Let the fpiritual temple be built, though 
I fhould never lay one ftone in the edifice. Give libe- 
rally, very liberally, to all thy faints and fervants, and 
mine eye fnall never be evil becaufe thine is good. 
It is enough to be a cup in thy houfe, though others be 
bowls and flaggons. Surely the loyal fubjecl will give 
his joyful acclamation at the coronation of his king, 
though not permitted to place the crown on his head, 
or perform any of the ceremonies, Is there any diifo- 
nance among the ftars (nor mould there be among the 
faints) becaufe one liar excelleth another in glory ? 

Such and fuch gift?, or mch and fuch degrees in thefe 
gifts, which I emulate for, might hurt me. Fire may 
be kept in a brafen veifel, which would burn a wooden- 
one. Boiling water might crack a glafs bottle, hu: not 
a itone bowl : fo thefe qualifications which I think would 
make me all vigour and fpirit, might hurt my fpirit in 
more fpiritual things. Few, like Mofes, could carry a 
command fo vaftly great, with a vafily greater meeknefs * y 
or have the humility to cover his face when it {bines, 
and refle£t the glory God-ward. Though I could pray 
like an apoixle, and fpeak like an angel, yet, if the lead, 
pride fpring from the performance, it were better to 
fpeak like a babbler, and pray like a babe in grace. I 
fhould prefs after grace continually, and grace in the 
higher! degree, without which the noble ft gifts will be 
but found and fmokej without heat y while the weakeft 

gift?, 



THE TRAVELLER. 2%$ 

gifts, with true grace, may edify both myfelf others. I 
mould reft fatisfied in the all-wife difpcfal of Providence, 
who giveth to ail as he pleafeth, fmce, though there be 
diversities of gifts, it is the fame Spirit who knows beft 
how to divide, and to whom : and if God be exalted > 
though I (hould exert myfelf, and would chuie to excels 
vet I mould not take it amiis that in that excellent 
work every one excels me, and out-does my utmoik 
rinally, though my capacity may be weak, and my 
faculties (hallow, yet hereby may all my wants be made 
up, if 1 be rich in faith, to draw out of his fulnefs for my 
exigence } in humility and gratitude, to diiclaim any 
thing in myfelf, and give him all the praile \ and in love 
to God, to pour out my whole foul on him, while 
he kindly dwells in n y heart, and replenimes every 
power with his preftnce,. 



MEDITATION CXIV, 

BIRTH-D-AY* 

S. Latitude 26°. May 30. 1761, 
When I dropped fome thoughts la it birth-day, I was 
zfoirertain if I (hould fee another, but now may be quite 
certain that this day I mall never fee again: therefore I 
am another year nearer to the unfeen world, were my 
years never fo many. Surely my years, like figures in 
arithmetic, rife in their value as their numbers increafe, 
and the laft redoubles the whole. Why ? fo much 
experience of the vanity of all things, fo many provi- 
dences ever working for me ? fuch fatherly chaSifements, 

fuch 



2 24 THE TRAVELLER. 

I 
luch rich difplays of grace, fuch divine admonitions, to 
many tender mercies, and fuch fvveet, ftveet outlet tings 
of love, leaves a heavy charge at my door, if I walk not 
anfwerably to them all. 

Though I am ftill alive, and O that I could live to 
him in whom I live, yet feveral families both of my 
friends and acquaintance have wept and wrung their 
hands for their expiring friends, in the mort period of a 
year , and O how foon mull I feel the mortal dart fixed 
in my heart, and every fkkening pulfe proclaim the ap- 
proach of my laft moments ! 

Then only thus (hall I be before- hand with my wa- 
fting years, and get my heart fenced againtl the terrors 
of death, by having my life hid with Chrift in God, 
and my converfation in heaven } fo ihould I antedate my 
future happinefs, begin eternity in time, and, like Enoch, 
walking with God, would get my foul filled with fuch 
an ardent flame of heavenly love, that I would have a 
defire to be diffolved, and to be with him. What a 
happy Mate were this j for death would drop his fling, 
the grave would ceafe to gloom, and awful eternity 
excite a fong of triumph ! Thus, while unprepared 
mortals tremble at the thoughts of death, I, longing for 
perfeft freedom from fin, and eternal communion wjth 
God, in a kind of holy impatience, would cry out, Why 
is his chariot fo long in coming ? why tarry the wheels 
cf his chariot ? 



MEM- 



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MEDITATION CXV. 

THOUGH WE WALK ON EARTH, OUR CONVERSATION? 
SHOULD EE IN HEAVEN. 

S. Latitude 10°. July 7. 1761. 
The way-faring man has little on the fatiguing road 
but his weary feet - y his heart being fet on his family, 
his friends, his home ; his affections on his native coun- 
try, and his defires terminating on his journey's end, 
Then, am not I a traveller heaven-ward, a pilgrim, and 
a fojourner on earth ? What then have I here, or whom 
have I here, to captivate my affections, and hinder them 
from being fet on high r If I have any treafuie, it muft 
be in heaven, for nothing on earth is worthy of the 
name, feeing all terrene things take wings, and fly away ; 
cr if they remain, it is but to be coa fumed in the general 
conflagration. Nothing fuie of mine mould dwell in 
this world, but the body of my mortality. My inner 
man ihould be an inhabitant of the better country : and 
it is highly reafonable it ihould be fo, for my hope, my 
joy, my all are there. I. The Father of my fpirit is 
there, the beloved of my foul, and the hufband of mine 
efpoufals , the fanc~lifler of mine affections, and the 
kindler of my love, is there. 2. All my friends in a 
fpiritua! refpecl: are there, even the whole family of my 
heavenly Father, angels, archangels, cherubims, fera- 
phlms, and the (pints of juit men made perfect. Who 
would not then dwell in fuch an affembly, and love fuch 
a divine fociety ? 3. My houfe and home are there^ 
snd it muft be an .eftr urged heart indeed that never 

thinks 



226 THE TRAVELLER. 

thinks on his own houfe, and never longs for home, 
4. Mine inheritance is there, and a goodly portion it is, 
and pleafant lines they are, that are fallen to me. The 
heirs of this world only farm from father to fon, and 
death determines the leafe^ but there every one inherits 
for himfelf, and that for eternity. 5. The objects of 
my faith, the fubjects of my fong, and the darling ex- 
cellencies of my love, are all there j and what foul would 
not dwell among fuch divine delights, walk in men a 
paradife, and breathe in the very air of fanclity and blifs ? 

O what a lofs do I fuftain by my ignorance of the 
divine life, and by the carnality of my mind ! But is 
fuch an happinefs attainable below ? Yes \ the Chriftian, 
even here, may have his converfation in heaven, or (as 
the word fignines) his civil life. Then, I. He that lives 
a civil life any where mud buy and fell, and do bufi- 
nefs with the men of his place \ fo may I in heaven even 
buy the merchandise of blifs without money, and with- 
out price *, and carry on the nobleft bulinefs with the 
highefl One in the molt interefting concerns of my foul. 
2. Where one lives he neceffarily walks and talks, eats 
and drinks, fleeps and wakes } fo may my foul by faith 
walk over the fields of light, and talk with the Author 
of my blifs, the fountain of my joy, and the centre of 
my love : there I may eat of the hidden manna, pluck 
of the drop- ripe apples of the tree of life, and drink of 
thofe rivers of pleafures that eternally overflow in his 
prefence •, yea, and fall afleep amidft the numerous 
beatitudes above, and awake with God in the morning. 

Now, as one travelling home, only attends to his jour- 
ney, and provides his viaticum, his food for the way \ (nor 
would his friend greatly oblige him that would load 
feim with golden dufl 3 or filver ore) - ? fo a few of the 

neceflark* 



THE TRAVELLER. 11*} 

neceffaries of life are fufncient for my fupport, till I 
arrive at that better life that mall need no fuch aflift- 
ance. 

Then, feeing my houfe, my home, my friends, my bills, 
my joy, mine inheritance, my crown, my life, my light, 
my glory, my Saviour and my God, are all on high, and 
nothing here but a wafle and howling wildernefs through 
which I travel with danger and difmay •, thither let my 
longings tend, my wiihes wing, and there let my defires^ 
center, my affe&ions be fixed, and my whole foul dwell, 
that at death nothing may remain but to quit this houfe 
of clay, and at once be a free and immortal citizen o£ 
the Jerufalem above. 



MEDITATION CXVI. 

GREAT LOVE IN GOD, THAT WE MAY LOVE GOB. 

N. Latitude 0°. is'. July 19. 1761. 
O how ardently would I love thee, who art amiable- 
nefs itfelf ! Fain w T ould I have my heart filled with divine 
breathings after thee, who art all beauty and defires ! 
but, alas ! I know not what it is to love thee, which is 
the higheft attainment of the firil-born fons of light, 
and the beft exercife of the brighteft feraphs. I have 
heard a foul-warming fame of thy likenefs in thy faints, 
and thy Similitude being put on the fpirits of thy people 5 
and where it is moil perfect, it gives them fuch a celef- 
tial tin&ure, fuch an heavenly hue, that they are like 

* angels 



423 THE TRAVELLER. 

nen, or faints whofe -converfa- 
tion Is already in heaven. But woe's me ! my igno- 
rance, my ignorance ! I know not thee, and how can I 
know thy likenefs ! alas ! my chains are heavy, and my 
wings are weak *, my affections fenfual, and my fpiritual 
defires languid. Yet I have fome blinks amidft my 
blafts, fome fun-fhine and ferenity in my winter : and, 
though I cannot love thee as I would, yet I am filled 
with longing after fome of this divine flame of love, 
that fhall turn all the out-goings of my foul God-ward, 
and turn the world, in all its beguiling and bewitching 
vanities, eternally out of doors. O that I knew *wbere r 
hoiVy and in what I might love thee ! May I love thee 
any where, and every where ! at home, or abroad, on 
fea or land, among friends or foes, among men or devils, 
among faints or iinners, in life or death, in time or in 
eternity ! But again, how or after what manner may I 
love thee ? May I delight myfelf in thee, meditate on 
thee, walk before thee imitate thy divine perfections, 
talk of thy glory, mention thy righteoufnefs, recount 
thy mercies, and ling aloud of thy love ! may I praife 
thee, pray to thee, plead with thee, depend upon thee, and 
roll myfelf wholly over on thee ! But again, in what may 
I love thee ? May I love thee in thy Son and in thyfelf, 
in the unity of Godhead, and in the trinity of perfons, 
in thy perfections and attributes, in the largenefs of thy 
love, and in the brightnefs of thy glory ! May I love 
thee in thy angels, in thy faints, and in all thy other 
creatures ! May I love thee in thy power and -in thy 
providence, in thy counfel and in thy conduct, in thy 
chaftifements and in thy comforts, in thy favours and in 
thy frowns, when thou wounded or makeft whole, when 
thou giveft and when thou take ft away ^ in a word, in 

all 



THE TRAVELLER. 229 

all thy fecret decrees, and in all thy open difpenfations ! 
May I love thee in thy gofpel, and in thine ordinances, 
in thy law and in thy tedimonies, in thy (captures and 
in th)f facraments, in thy promifes and in their perfor- 
mance, in thy faints, in thy fervants, and even in mine 
own foul, (O to fee thee, O to know thee there !), and 
in thy grace, and in thy glory ! Again, may I love thee 
at all times and all feafons, in youth or in eld age 5 
in my family or in the field, in company or alone, 
lying down or riling up, going out or coming in, in 
health or ficknefs, in wealth or in poverty, in a prifon 
or in a palace, in reproach or applaufe, in the body or 
among the fpirits ot jufi men made perfeel ! 

O adoniihing condefcenfion ! that one under fo many 
deformities and,, deficiencies may love continually fo 
great a Being in all his glorious excellencies ! Will a 
king accept of the love of a fubjeel, efpecially if loaded 
with infamy and reproach, reduced to poverty, and 
languiihing en a fick-bed ? and yet, though poor, re- 
proached, and infirm, God defpifes not my love, but 
welcomes even its few afcending fparks. O ! then, what 
a field of love is this, God looking out at fo many win- 
dows, mining in fo many excellencies, and {till calling, 
Son, give me thy heart ; foul, give me thy love ! O what 
mull that love be that prevails in the higher houfe, in 
the higheft heavens ! Oh ! were my foul dipt in the 
celeixial Jordan, I mould be clean fed from the leprofy 
of earthiy-mindednefs and carnal affections, which al- 
ways renders the perfons infecled unclean, and incapable 
of holding communion with the Mod High. 

O deared Lord ! thou haft blown up a fpark in my 
bread, that lives in fpite of all the waters of corrup- 
tion m 7 cheridi and increafe this fire, till in the day of' 

U eternity 



2J© THE TRAVELLER. 

eternity it break forth into a fpotlefs flame. And 
then (0 could I antedate that day !) I fhall even be 
refreihed with the perfection of my love, when I find it 
fo fpotlefs, vigorous, and divine, that not only I, but God, 
its glorious fountain, and eternal object, lhall be pleafed 
with my love j when its quality (hall be fuitable to that 
ft ate of confummate perfection, its quantity fuch as re- 
pleniihes the mo ft enlarged powers of glorified fouls, and 
its duration through all evermore. 

Now, fince thou art feen in all things, and canft not 
but be loved wherever thou art feen, how is it that I 
am not wholly taken up with thy love, and loft in tran- 
sport and delight in the divine furvey of thine excel- 
lencies ? Can a poor foul like mine not find fufficient 
matter for meditation, where a whole heaven of perfect- 
ed adorers find enough for their mod enlarged capacities 
through eternity, and to fpare ? 

Now, here is the wonder, that God is not only lovely 
in himfelf, and in all things whereby he reveals himfelf, 
but alfo permits, yea, commands me to love him, ma- 
king my indifpenfibie duty my daily privilege, and my 
higher! privilege my daily duty. 

All fubje£ts may and ought to reverence and love 
their fovereigns, but fome countries not only forbid, but 
make it penal, for any of the fair fex, though nobly 
born, to be efpoufed to their prince, and fo of courfe 
forbid them to love him in the highefi degree. But, 
O the condefcenfion of the high and lofty One, the 
chiefeft among ten thoufand, that I may love him, and 
fcot be reproved, and kifs him, and not be defpifed ! 
As he is the greateft, fo is he the moil generous of lovers, 
not only ever returning love for love, but for a fpark 
returning a flame, and for a faint wifh, fome full expref- 

fions 



THE TRAVELLER. 2^1 

fions of captivating love j and as he is a noble, a none- 
fuch lover, fo he does all things anfwerable to this di- 
vine character. His decrees are love : M I have loved 
thee with an everlafting love }" his counfels are love,.- 
u I counfel thee to buy of me gold j" his cords are love, 
wherewith he draws \ his rod is love, with which he cor* 
reels, for " whom he loves he chaltens j" his providen- 
ces are pregnant w T ith love ; his prcmiies are pure love \ 
his name is love \ his offices are love, for to teach 
and inftruct, to plead and intercede, to lead, rule, and 
defend, to help and heal, to counfel and comfort, are 
certainly offices of love \ his relations are love, a 
kinfman Redeemer, a friend, a brother, a father, an 
bufband, are kindly names, and full of affection, eipe* 
cially in him ; his banquet is a feaft of love ; his banner 
is a banner of love ; his chariot is paved with love j and 
he himfelf is altogether lovely. May I, then, love fuch 
an amiable one with all the vigour of divine affection, 
and not be deemed audacious ! May I claim the dar- « 
ling of heaven as mine, and maintain, w'ith all the warmth 
of immortal love, " This is my Beloved, and this is 
my friend, " and not be accounted an offender amongft 
ail the enamoured adorers of the higher boufe ! 

But, O where (hall I find, or whence fetch, a love 
worthy to be beitowed on this lover, who hath not his like 
on earth, or in heaven r O could I love thee like thy 
faints in the day of their efpoufals, glow like angels in 
their celefdal ardcurs, and burn like feraphs in their 
deathlefs rlames ! O rlrange ! may a worm of yefler- 
day's production love the mighty One of eternity > 
may a daily tinner pre fume to be a daily lover of him 
whofe name is holy ? may duff and afhes not only 
talk, but carry on a communication, an interchange of 

U 2 Icve, 



2$Z th£ traveller. 

love, with the Father of fpirits ? Yes ; for thou no: 
only allowed me to love thee, but to know that I am 
loved of thee in an infinitely higher manner than I can 
love thee. 1 hine is the ocean, mine a drop from thy 
fulnefs y thine is the fun, mine a fpark kindled in thy 
beams \ thine is the eternal emanation of fovereign good- 
will, mine the reflection of heaven-born gratitude, for 
I love thee, becaufe thou firft lovedit me j and as thou 
wail firfr, fo art thou higher"! in thy love. It was much 
for thy faints, yea, was it not enough for them, and 
more than enough for me, to be loved like thine angel?, 
archangels, thy feraphs, and all thy bright armies e£ 
light ? yet thou hall loved them with a love above that \ 
for in that matchlefs prayer, (John, xvii.), pleading for 
the perfection of his fpiritual feed, through union to him, 
the divine Redeemer fays, " That the world may know,' 7 
(and let all the world know it, repeats a raufomed worm), 
u that thou hail loved them, as thou haft loved me !" 

What a wonderful love is this ! but what a w y orthle{$ 
lover am I I O happy, thrice happy heirs of God, and 
ioint- heirs with Chrift ! whom he invites to a feat with 
him on his throne ! Surely, under a fenfe cf fo much 
love, and yet power to love fo little, I mould die, did I 
not wait for my removal to the region of love, where 
my powers of mind, enlarged and fxrengthened for the 
tranfports of eternity, (hall be wholly exercifed in love, 
O that divine freedom I wait for, that glorious liberty 
of immortal lovers that I pant after, where mine eye (hall 
be all intuition of his glorits, and mine ear all attention 
to the account of his excellencies ! Surely, my feng and 
loul ihall be full cf love to him ! Yea, nothing but love, 
centering on him, and ringing of him, with the highefl: 
degree of ardcur, ihall employ my every power for ever. 

And 



THE TRAVELLER. 23 $ 

And here, (fear Lord, while I walk on the dark mountains, 
let it be regarded as a kind of love to think, (lince I cannot 
love thee as I (hould and would), how perfectly I (hall 
love thee in thofe blifsful regions, in thofe days of future 
glory, and in thy heavenly prefence \ with what frefh 
ardour, and unknown delight, I (hall adore the God of 
love, who is not only lovely altogether, but teems cut 
full floods of love on the emmets of creation, and wel- 
comes the trirling returns of love from the atoms of his 
footftool* 



MEDITATION CXVIL 

PROVIDENCE TO BE APPROVED • 

Portsmouth Harbour^ Oct. 31. I 
Nothing is harder to attain to, than an entire refigna^ 
tion to the dffpoial of Providence * ? and in this ver; 
thing I condemn myfelf. Bur, O how a£>furd to quar- 
rel vith Heaven about one individual, If pleafed with' 
his conduct towards the totality of beings ! Did I 
ever with a reafon why God fends his Gabriel on this or 
that menage, and not fome other of the bright armies of 
blifs ? Duril I ever find fault with the immenfe distance 
of the liars, or the huge magnitude of the fun t Did it 
ever give me uneafinefs, though the Ottoman em; 
was a fcene of revolutions, or a field of blood, or tfioi 
nations nearer home underwent changes and wa 
It any trying providences come home, 1 am up, ii 
in arms, vet in aftonilhment, at Heaven^ and wondet 

u 3 



234 THa TRAVELLER. 

why God deals fo and to ! Now, God's right over, and 
propriety in me, is as fall and fovereign as over any other 
of his creatures 5 and fo ihould I be as well pleafed with 
what he carves out for me, as I am with what he dees 
for others. I never complained cf the age of the world 
in which I was born, (nay, but have bleffed God for 
it) ) and why mould I, of the time of life that this or 
that event concerning me takes place ? I pant after 
fome things which in tbemfelves are good, but God 
poflpones them,- as I think -, but the truth is, the pro- 
per time of God's giving, and my receiving, is not 
come m y and yet, in the greatnefs of my folly, I grow 
impatient, like the hufbandrnan, that for an early bar* 
veil, reaps corn not fully ripe. 

Now, my will fhall be fw all owed up in thine, fince I 
am more thy property .than mine own. And as I 
would not direct Cmnifcience how to difpofe of his ar- 
mies of light, fo will I never tell him how to deal with 
the inhabitants of his earth, though I make one of the 
number. Yet, O Moil High ! as thou wilt be inquired 
of by the feed of Jacob for thefe free mercies which 
thou wilt bellow, and even importuned (as once by 
wrefliing Jacob) for bleffings, and the performance cf 
thy promifes } fo I implore thy divine interpofition in 
my behalf, if it be thy holy will, and that thou wouldit 
bring me again to the place of the foles of thy feet, 
that 1 may hear bleffings inilead of blafphemy, and fee 
thtQ in thy glory in thine own courts. O kt mine ab- 
sent moments from Zion be numbered up, and nnifhed \ 
my wanderings counted, and completed ; my company 
changed, and my fong be to the God of my mercy in the 
courts of his holinefs ; and make me yet fee fome of the 
days of the Son of man, in commemorating the fufTer- 

ings 



fcHBE TRAVELLER. 235 

ipcr? and death of my divine Redeemer 1 In thy tender 
mercy, hear, help, and give an artfwer of peace. 

But, Lcrd, if thou (halt (and for thy glory I would 
fain live) be mere gloriried in my resignation to thy 
holy will, and my remaining in the flate I am in, than 
ill my poffefling all thofe things I leng after, I roll mj- 
felf over on thee, and to thy difpofal fay Amen, 



MEDITATION CXVIL 

BRIGHT VIEWS AND BOLD LANGUAGE ABOVE. 

Under sa il for L isb on, Kc v. 29. 1 7 (3 2 • 
Cften at the description of divine things, by a maf- 
terly pen, or a truly poetical genius, I have been afto- 
nilhed, and admired the enlarged views of thofe, ar,d 
their fublirne thoughts, who, like myfelf, but dwelt in 
clay. Then faid I, What muft the fongs of the new 
Jerufalexn be, when a tlanza or two, wrote by a poor 
mortal, labouring with corruption, and bewailing his 
Ignorance of facied things, yields fo much pleafure and 
delight ! 

I ftia 11, then, for a moment, fuppofe myfelf arrived at 
the regions of glory, and welcomed by the King eter- 
nal to the upper world : But how am I at once trans- 
ported with the harmony of blifs, while I am indulged 
to look into the library of heaven, and read all the ef- 
fays of eternity itfelf ! Firft, then, a celeftial canto 
fp reads before me, whofe majeftic fi yle aftcnifhes, whofe 
foft and flowing numbers raviih, which was fung by the 

morning- 



2$6 THE TRAVELLER. 

morning- ft ars together, by all the fons of God, when 
the earth was created. And next, an inimitable fong, 
compofed by the hrft bards of light, and fang by part 
of the celeftial choir, when the fon of God condefcended 
to be born. Then a triumphant anthem, fung and 
echoed round the whole court of heaven by all the hofts 
of light, when the Son of God afcended conqueror over 
all his foes, and fat down on high at the right-hand of 
God. But the moft amazing and inimitable piece, for 
abundance of fubjeft, for excel] en cy of matter, for 
beauty of expreflion, for ardency of love, for intimacy 
of communion, and for refined and exalted thought, 
is the divine epithalamium, which, at the marriage- flip- 
per of the Lamb, when the whole family of heaven is 
affembled to divide no more, (hall be fung by every 
gueft at the feaft of love, at the table of blifs. Be- 
sides thefe, here are fome xeviving hymns, compofed by 
angels rejoicing over repenting tinners. What exalted 
joy fparkles in that angelic ccmpofition over a penitent 
Manafies, and every returning prodigal! Gabriel, in this 
matchleis ode, fmgs of the eternity of God, in fuch 
{trains as would aftonifh all the bards of time ; — in 
that, Raphael dwells on the trinity of perfons ; — while 
Michael celebrates the majefty and power of the Eternal, 
with fuch energy of thought as would darken the bright- 
eft wits the world ever faw. In another, a mighty feraph 
lings inimitably of facred love, and all heaven echoes 
amen to his divine encomium. Yea, now every faint id a 
poet, every believer a bard 5 and O how fweet are the 
fongs of the higher temple ! how faft the harmony of 
eternal day !" What hallelujahs rife from the angels ci 
God ! what hofannas from the church of the firit-born ! 
What concord and fymphcny are in the fongs above ! 

hew 



THE TRAVELLER. 237 

how dark, compared to thefe, were the brighteft defcrip- 
tions of God I ever heard below ! how dull my former 
ardours to thofe which now libel! how faint and languid 
my love to what now kindles in my bread ! Here is 
the refined expreflion, here the noble idea, here the ex- 
alted turn of thought, here the true fublime of divine 
poetry, and here the enlarged, the naked view of divine 
thing?, of heavenly glories, to embolden and enliven every 
fono\ Here we talk of God at his throne, and while we 
commend him, we behold the beauties of his face; while 
we exalt him we enjoy him, and fo can never ceafe ex- 
tolling him. 

But, alas ! my dark views of future things convince 
me that I am dill in the body. Yet great things I may 
expect in that Itate of perfeelicn. And though now I 
cannot ierve God, ncr ling to God, as I would, and as I 
fhould, yet there is a day on the wing when I ihall join 
the anthem of love, and, being lcofed from ail my prefent 
fetters, (hall fing through eternity with the bards of 
paradife, " To him that loved us, that died for us, that 
rofe again, and reigns on high, be honour and might, 
power and dominion, blefiing and glory, for ever and ever. 
Amen.*' 



MEDITATION CXVIIL 

DECLINING YEARS. 

River Tagus at Lisbon ', December 26. 1161, 
Hitherto I have locked upon myfelf as young, and 
coming to my belt 3 but henceforth I (hall connder my- 

felt 



I38 THE TRAVELLER. 

fclf as in my declining years. I am certain how long 
I have lived in the world, but quite uncertain how icon 
I muft leave the world 5 and therefore ihould be prepa- 
ring for my final departure, and daily be ripening for 
the regions of blifs. 

Nothing would be a more forbidding profpe£t, than 
the verdure of fpring to cloathe the fields in harvefr. \ 
but nothing more pleafant, than to fee maturity keep 
pace with the approach of autumn. So mould I grow 
daily riper for the great harvelr, as the time of in- 
gathering draws daily nearer and nearer. Leaves are 
pleafant in the infant orchard, but fruits are expecled 
from the full-grown trees : — So in the young converts, 
the breathings of grace are fweet \ but aged faints are 
expected to abound in fruits of righteoufnefs. My love, 
like Ezekiel's holy waters, the longer it runs, mould 
rife the higher, and fpread the wider, till loft in its 
divine ocean above. The longer we live with cur 
friends, we grow better acquainted, more intimate 
with, and fonder of them ) fo the longer I enjoy com- 
munion with God, the more ardently mould I breathe 
after uninterrupted communion with him. As my years 
decline, and my outward man walks away, {o mould 
my graces bloom, and my inner man grow ftrong ) and 
when it is almoft dark night with my life, it mould be 
bright noon with my expectations. O how pleafant is 
it, that the longer I live in the world, I rife the nigher 
to heaven ! If I m?:ke prcgrefs in my fpiritual pilgri- 
mage, I will daily lofe fight of the world and all its 
vanities, which is the wildernefs I travel from, and will 
daily fee more of the tops of the heavenly mountains, 
of the towers of the New Jerufalem, toward which I tra- 
vel. A Hate of grace is a glorious condition at all 

times } 



THL TRAVELLER. 2;p 

times ; bat a growth in grace is a fwect nroof and hea- 
venly confequence or being in a itate of grace. My 
affections ihould be more and more loo fed from the 
creature, while the pins of my earthly tabernacle are 
looiening every day. I mould at all times have my 
converfation in heaven, but efpecially when walking 
with one foot in the grave. 

Now, though the periou of threefcore years feems far 
diilant, yet, as there is not an hour of the day of life 
but the fun gees down at, lb I ihould juft walk as under 
a fetting fun, feeing upon thou fends at my age the iha- 
dows of an everianing evening have fallen, who had as 
many pretentions to longevity as I. My walking with 
God will not rhorten my ipan, but brighten my neon, 
and make my fun let with all the fweetnefs of a cloud- 
lefs evening. Enoch walked with Cod three hundred 
years, and, in a manner, begun heaven upon earth, fo that 
he grew immortal, and afcended deathlefs to the very- 
throne. O how pleafant is it to feed on the fruits of 
paradife while entering into the land of promife, and as 
it were to be naturalized in the world of fpirits, ere I 
go to dwell for ever there. A grey head, and a carnal 
worldly heart, is a wounding fight \ but a young man, 
and an aged love, one in his prime, and all his graces 
flouri(hinga is comely to behold. Henceforth, begone 
bewitching vanities, and all the enchantments of the 
world \ the evening of my life is not to be trifled away 
with you. Death attends me, the grave awaits me, and 
eternity is at hand \ therefore, may my purified affec- 
tions, liver-like, enlarge as they approach the ocean j 
and on the wings of faith and love, may I often fly to the 
bills of fpices, where thy glories fhed their beams. May 
I walk in the liberty of (piritua] meditation in the land 

of 



240 THE TRAVELLER* 

of blifs, that fo death, when it jsomes, may have no 
snore to do than lay my {lumbering a(hes in the filent 
grave, and let my foul remain a free inhabitant in her 
blefied abode. 



MEDITATION CXIX. 

THE EXPECTED CHANGE. 

Jan. 10. 1762, Lisbon River. 
Whatever horrors may befet the carnal and fee tire 
when their gloomy moments come on apace, yet no 
profpe^l affords me equal pleafure to that of my lad 
change ; and I have exceeding great caufe to rejoice, 
when I compare what I now am and fujfer, with what 
1 mail then enjoy and be. Now my joys are mcfily 
future, and in expectation, for I walk by faith, and live 
on hope ; but then they fiiall be prefent, and in poflef- 
fion, for I fiiall dwell in light, and feed on fruition. 
Now I am daily firuggling with death and fin, but then 
I (hall eternally triumph over both. Now I toil along a 
tirefome road, but then I (hall walk above thefe fkies 
in the very heavens. Now mine eyes rove from vanity 
to vanity ; but then they (hall fee, yea, fix on the King 
in his glory, on the King of kings in his divined glory. 
Now I dwell among fire- brands, and furrounding tinners 
daily give me pain ; but then I (hall dwell among the 
armies of redeeming love, fee angels and archangels in- 
creafe the throng, cherubims and feraphims join the 
fong, and not one mong all the hofis of light. 

Now I bewail myfelf often as a frail inhabitant of feeble 

clay; 



THE TRAVELLER. $41 

clay \ but then I fliall find myfelf pofieiTcd of all the 
vigour of immoitality, of all the brifknefs of eternal 
life. Now I am often puzzled about the providences 
of my lot j but then I (hali approve, an$ fee a divine 
beauty ftiitiing through the whole conduct of providence, 
in the light of glory. Now, in the nobleil fubjecls my 
ignorance often leaves me greatly in the dark ; but then 
(hall I know, and that even as I am known. Now I have 
foes without, and foes within, the fin of my nature, and the 
* idols of my heart, enemies from earth and hell to grapple 
with \ but then, triumphing over every foe, I fliall ling 
the conqueft of the Captain of my falvation, the vic- 
tories of the divine Conqueror, and never ceafe from 
this interefting, this unexhaufted theme. Now ibme- 
times, from the precious ordinances and facred courts of 
God I am debarred for a time \ but then (hall I be a 
pillar in the temple of God, and go no mere cut, but 
always worihip at his throne. Now the cruel hand of 
death comes among my friends and familiars, and leaves 
me like a fparrow on the houfe-top alone, or a pelican 
in the wildernefs mourning \ but then rot one of all 
the numerous inhabitants fliall fo much as fay, " I am 
lick," becaufe they are an afTembly of finlefs ones, 
my Sun often conceals himfelf, fo that I go mourning 
without him \ but then in the light of his countenance, 
in the biightnefs of his glory, mall I walk on for ever. 
Now I am crawling along the road of life in company 
with fellow-worms, who dwell in cottages of clay, and 
are crufhed before the moth \ but then, dignified with 
his divine fimiiitude, I fliall dwell with the Ancient of 
days, and enjoy the deareft. and moft intimate com- 
munion with Jehovah and the Lamb for ever. Now my 
time is wailing away, and I am not far, yea, for aught 

"V T 



24 s ? HE TRAVELLER. 

I know, am very near my latter end ; but then an endlefs 
eternity ihall be mine, and my blifs be as durable as 
defirable, as permanent as pleafant. O! then, who 
would not prepare and wait for a change that is fo preg*. 
aant with glory and blifs > 



MEDITATION CXXI. 

ARGUMENTS FOR FAITH IN GOD. 

Jan. 22. 1762. Under sail for England. 

The nobleil way to glorify God, is to be ftrong in 
the faith, like Abraham, the friend of God \ and as this 
confers mod honour on the divine Prcmifer, fo it conveys 
the greater! quietnefs to the foul. Eut, as I am more 
fearful than many of the faithful, and cannot attain to 
that confidence in God that the moil part of believers 
have, let me ftrengthen my faith by the fcriptures of 
truth, which can never be broken. 

Firft, then, thefe facred records hold out a chain of 
the nearer! and dearefl relations between God and the 
happy foul that has an interelx in him. He is a Judge, 
the Judge of all the earth \ and can I dread wrong 
judgement at his hand ? He is the orphan's flay, the 
flrength of the poor, and the Granger's ftiield f what then 
may not the orphan, the poor, and the ftranger expecl 
from him ? 

Again, he is a Father ) and what may not I expeft 
from fuch a Father, who, in the tendered manner has 
faid again and again, " Son, all that I have is thine j'-' — 

a 



THE TRAVELLER. ^4J 

a Father, who has heaven and earth at his difpofal, and 
the hearts of all men in his hand ; — -a Father, whofe divine 
affeclion infinitely exceeds that of the bed of the name to 
his mod engaging fon, or of the mod loving mother to 
her moft amiable babe 5 — a Father,, whofe wifdom 
knows infinitely well both what and when to give ; 
whofe eyes and ears are continually open to their cala- 
mities and complaints \ whofe love waits to bellow, and 
is, as it were, impatient to be gracious \ whofe promife is 
no dead word, but living, and pregnant with good \ — a 
Father, who has given the moft amazing indance of 
love, in that he kept not back his Son, but delivered 
him up for us all \ and if he gives me his falva- 
tion, gives me the graces of his Spirit, promifes me 
his heaven and his glory, in a word, gives me himfelf, 
what will he withhold, what will he deny ? 

Surely, I have hitherto had too mean thoughts of the 
goodnefs of God, and looked on the promifes as only 
fair words, when they are very faithfulnefs and truth j 
yet I may affure myfelf with as much certainty as the 
fun is in the heavens, that all the promifes of Gcd {hall 
have their full, their perfefl, their complete accomplifh- 
ment toward me, and at the time that is mod proper irt 
the eye of Infinite Wifdom. Henceforth no doubt (hall 
difturb my bread 5 I will patiently wait on the Lord, 
who not only promifes great things, but performs 
whatever he promifes \ knowing affuredly that though 
now I too much imitate murmuring Ifrael in the wrlder- 
nefs, yet, like them, when I arrive at the land of pro- 
mife, the Canaan above, I (hall profefs before the whole 
aSembly'of blifs, that there hath not failed any good 
thing whereof the Lord had fpoken, or given promiie— 
all is come to pafe. 

X 2 TVIEDI- 



244 THE TRAVELLER. 

MEDITATION CXXII. 

THE TRAVELLER AT HOME. 

Sept. 7. 1776. 

These many years have I dwelt in my native coun- 
try, and in mine own houfe. Through the perils of war, 
the dangers of the fea, extremity of cold in one part, 
and fcorching heat in another, have my life and health 
been preferved, to my own furprife, while numbers faw 
their native land no rrfore. But, as a traveller, what 
have I feen ? Juft fin and vanity in every land, grief 
and pain in every bread, the fruits of the fall, and the 
havock of the curfe in all nations. 

I dwell in mine own houfe, and blefs the bounty of 
Providence, which, from floating on a reftlefs ocean, has 
given me a fettled habitation. But I look forward, 
and fee that I have a long, an interefting, an awful 
journey before me, not from one kingdom to another, 
but from one world to another. Hence, (not forgetful 
of all his mercies that prevented me in all my wander- 
ings), to lay up my treafure in the better country, to 
prepare for my approaching change, to improve for my 
future fociety, and to ripen for heaven and glory, (hall 
jcmploy the remainder of my life, that I may finifh my 
cpurfe with joy. Amen. 



CON- 



CONVERSE 



WITH THE 



WORLD UNSEENV 



CONVERSE 



WITH THE 



WORLD UNSEEN, 



I. 

FUTURE GLORY. 



Oet. 1762+ 
W ken, fome years ago, I left my native country fo? 
another land, my thoughts went before me } and 
when I forefaw, that, in the courfe of providence, I 
ihould crofs the glowing Equinoclial, frill my thoughts 
got the ft art of me, and were, as it were, acquainted in 
the place ere my arrival there. Since, then, I am on 
my journey towards eternity and the world unfeen, why 
is not my meditation there ? Shall the howling defart 
through which I haiie engrofs my attention, when 
paradife is before me ? 

Tell me, ye inhabitants of bins, how you employ 
ycurfelves, ye who have bid everlafting farewell to all 

crested 



3 |8 CONVERSE WITH THE WORLD UNSEEN. 

created things ? " Oh ! man, thy queftion moves our pity, 
and proves that thou dwelled in thick darknefs. Could it 
thou thruft thy head through theie heavens, and get 
one glanee of the glory we dwell in, of the divine per- 
fon we adore, thou would ft never move the que (lion 
again, but ardently long to come up hither, and ac- 
count the conqueft of a kingdom like the chi-ldifli ac~ 
quifition of a feather or a fly j thou would ft turn the 
world out of thy mind, and trample on its nobleft 
things with a difdain becomingan expectant of glory."" 
My divine Redeemer, I fee, then, that in thy pre- 
fence there is fulnefs of joy, and that at thy right hand 
are pleafures evermore. Too long the things of time 
liave gained on my efteem 5 too long have I been en- 
amoured with creature charms, and miftaken the chief 
good 5 henceforth will 1 dwell in that world, where in 
a little I mall dwell for ever. The more I meditate on 
^divine things, the more I love them, and find the 
greater ddight in my meditations; but the lefs my 
thoughts are on them, alas ! the lefs do I efteem them. 
Ah ! hitherto how have I refufed and fled the pureft 
felicity, and followed after vanity and pain ! 



II. 

ON WANT OF DIVINE LOVE, 

Bleed, my heart ! and be pained, my inmoft foul! at 
the irreverence that too often troubles me in my devotion, 
and defiles my belt duties, O ye fons of light ! I fee 

jou 



CONVERSE WiTK TRE WORLD UXSEEN. 249 

you ftand at the eternal throne, and worfhip, with pro- 
foundeft awe and reverence, the Almighty. Yes, ye 
angelic throng ! though your countenance fparkles with 
glory, yet, before the Ancient of Days, ye hide your faces 
with your wings, drop your greatnefs in his effulgent 
Majefty, and lofe your beauty in his diviner beams. 
There the mighty Gabriel is a cclettial worm ; and all 
the feraphic principalities are Infects round the throne ! 

What, then, rouft I be before the High and Lofty 
One who alone inhabits eternity ? I who dwell in clay, 
am cruihed before the moth, clouded with ignorance, 
defiled by iin, dogged by death, pleafed with phantoms, 
and charmed with gilded nothings ! The language I 
write in, cannot afford words to defcribe my vilenefs \ 
metaphors fall Ihort, and fruitful fancy toils in vain ; 
Then let me think, and debafe myfelf even unto hell. 

O tremendous gulph ! where am I now ? Ye fallen 
hofts ! ye infernal throng ! you I refemble in my irre- 
verence towards God. Oh, horrid ! (hall I be like 
thefe grinning fpectres, thefe eldeft fons of fin and 
death ? Out of the belly of hell will I cry unto the; yet 
thcu haft my heart, thou haft my love, and I will wcr- 
fliip at thy throne proftrate on the humble ground. 

O ye happy affembly on the heavenly mount, the 
mount of Gcd ! could I think like you, could I know 
like you, could my whole foal be wrapt up in adoration 
and divine attention to the fweet employ, what delight 
would diffufe through all my powers of mind in my 
happieft moments ! 

What caufe have I to fear left thy burning thunder- 
bolts break on my irreverent head, and da(h the daring 
wretch out of thy gracious prelence into perdition and 
wee ! But be thou exalted in thy condefeenfion to my 

ftate^ 



2JO CONVERSE WITH THE WORLD UNSEEN. 

flate, in thy pity to my frame, and let thy patience and 
forbearance fwell my grateful anthem, while I long for 
that perfect ftate, wherein, though bleffed with the near- 
eft approaches, I mall always be filled with the pro- 
foundeft refpecl, and divined awe, and not one improper 
thought of God {hall pafs my breaft* 



III. 

WE GROPE IN THE BARK WHILE HERE BELOW. 

Ye heirs of cndlcfs reft ! ye know no more the anxious 
thought, the troubled bread $ your cares are paft, and 
your concerns have come to an happy end, while this 
day I wait the doubtful HTue of fome grand affairs which 
very much concern my pa fling life. Not a cloud is ia 
your iky, not a doubt is in your mind, while I dwell in 
the ftormy twilight, and fear a tempeftuous night. O 
ye Aiming ones ! is it pofhbie, that ever, like me, ye 
dwelt in the vale of Achor r were ye not born in the 
better country ye now inhabit ? Were ever thefe com- 
pofed countenances disfigured with- forrow, or did the 
briny tear ere trickle from thefe fparkling eyes ? 

" Yes, mi-ftaken man! we all, and every one of us-, 
came out of great tribulation \ not an inhabitant of the 
Canaan above, but longer or fhorter travelled through 
the wildernefs- below. We loft our forrows with our 
jnortal frame, and at once found immortality and joy •, 
gnd now our happinefs is vaft as thought, unbounded as 
our wifh, and ftable as the hills of blifs !" 

Well, well, ye fons of joy ! I boaft my happinefs as 

well 



CONVERSE WITH THE WORLD UNSEEN. 2 j I 

well as you. If your felicity be fecured in the pofleffion, 
mine is fecured in the promife. He that delivers cut of 
Egypt, alfo brings fafe over Jordan. Once, like rne 9 
ye wept, ye mourned, ye flood amazed, and knew not 
what to do , fo, in a little, I, like you, mail fhout and 
ling, and (hare eternal peace, and praife the conduct of 
my glorious Guide. Comforted with thefe profpedls, 
I will encounter all the changes of a tranfient ftate, and 
fix mine eye on the felicity to come. By faith I will 
drink at the river that flows from the throne of God ; and 
thus, become immortal in my higheft hopes, and raoft en- 
dearing profpecls, I will bid defiance to all the darts of 
woe that can teem on me in time. What can changes 
do to me, fince my lail and moil terrible change (hall 
fix my felicity, and render my belt Hate unchangeable ? 



IV. 

. ALL THINGS WORK FOR GOOD TO THE SAINTS. 

May I endure as feeing him who is invifible, and ha- 
ving mine eye much on the world to come ! Time now. 
paries, and palling time has perplexing fcenes \ but, O 
ye citizens of the New Jerufalem, your mountain 
Hands fair, and (hall never be moved, and your beloved 
is in your arms \ and an everlafhng hallelujah dwells 
upon your tongue. Here I dwell in the dark, and am 
much in doubt, nor know what conclufion to draw from 
the conduct of Prov.dence concerning arty prefent (late. 
I deprecate and pray, and often am at a lofs to know 
my duty. Is there none in your great affembly that 

could , 



2j2 CONVERSE WITH THE WORLD tfNSEEft". 

eould be content that fome of your croffes had not taken 
place in time ? and that the divine conduct had been 
otherwife ? 

" No, complaining mortal! no. Be it known to thee, 
and all the mourning throng, that we adore and ac- 
quiefce in all that ever befel us below. Yea, the very 
providences which croffed us molt, and made us almoft 
doubt the love, and diibelieve the promife of God, now, 
when unfolded in the light of glory, fill our hearts with 
joy, and our mouths with fongs, while we adore the 
infinite love and amazing wifdom of our God, that 
made all things work together for ou* eternal good !" 

What ! Is there not one in all your numerous af- 
fembly that has had dark and unintelligible providences 
in his lot ? 

" What, then, prefumptuous inquirer ? It compofes 
us, that God, our own God, fent them •, and though we 
fhould never be able to find out the caufe, or be indulged 
with the myftery unfolded, we are all well pleafed to 
have the ftrongeil: impreffions of Jehovah's abfolute fove^ 
reignty, who gives not account of any of his matters 
to men or angels, thus preferved on our enlarged fouls, 
to all eternity." 

Shall I not, then, from this time, O Lord, claim thee 
as my Father, and the guide of my life ? Thoufands, 
and ten thoufands, by thy divine conduct, are fafely 
arrived at blifs, and not a complaint on their tongue, 
not a murmur in their mind at one flep in all the rugged 
way 



V. 



CONVERSE WITH THE WORLD UNSEEN. 2J3 

V. 

A SOUL CONVERTED, JOY AMONG THE ANGELS. 

Dec, 6. 1763. 

What meaneth the noife of this great (bout in the 
camp of heaven ? What ! ye holy angels, there cannot 
be war in your borders, or death in your immortal 
family ? u No, but one of our bleiTed number is juft 
now arrived from miniftering to the faints on earth, and 
brings the joyful tidings, that a (inner is converted, an 
heir of glory born, and therefore joy fparkles in every 
angelic countenance, and triumphs in our rapturous hal- 
lelujahs. Let this day be marked in the records of 
heaven, in the annals of eternity: and may to-morrow be 
as this day, and much more abundant." 

Hail, happy day, when the ccnveriion of my friend, 
that (hares my daily prayers, mall caufe joy among the 
angels of God; yea, when God the Saviour (hall fee of 
the travail of his foul, and be fatisfred ! Methinks I fee 
the rofy dawn of divine power, when thelcul that once 
refilled Jefus flies into his arms. Then the pleafmg 
dreams fly away, and the unfeen world prefents itfelf to 
view. Then the peace of God, and peace of confcience ? 
are prized above all the things of fame. Wherefore do I 
doubt, fmce thy name is (alvation, thy word enlivening, 
thy merits infinite, thy call at every hour, and all thy 
bowels love ? 

Again the heavenly arches ring, "Another captive woi* 
from hell, another (inner converted from the error of his 
way 7 and who can tell but it is my abfent friend i Let 

Y all 



254 CONVERSE WITH THE WORLD UNSEEN". 

all the ranfomed throng exalt the riches of free and fove* 
reign grace, while all my powers are fwallowed up of 
afionifament and love ! 



VI. 

EARTH NOT OUR HOME. 

Sept. 16. 1764. 

^Vhy am I fo fond of the land wherein I am a Gran- 
ger, of the place of my exile ? The deceafe of all my 
anceflors proves this \ not one of them is this day alive, 
and I fall the next by courfe. O to get this world un- 
der my feet, that it may not lie a dead weight on me in 
my lafl moments ! This is the land of graven images, 
and every image dares compete with the things of the 
unfeen world \ for relations claim to have as much of my 
affection as Chrift \ time, to be as oft in my thoughts as 
eternity } and the earth to engrofs my concern as much 
as heaven. 

Now the men of the world think I am at home ) but 
the expectant of glory will not own his home beneath 
the fun; for it is but a coldrife home where fin and 
Satan dare appear, God is feldom feen, and the te- 
nant is often weeping ; but, O bleffed inhabitants ! who 
dwell where the Lord God and the Lamb are the 
temple, the Lord God and the Lamb are the light, and 
the joy of the whole land. \Tou not only dwell in 
heaven, but heaven dwells in you, whHe earth and hell 
ftruggle hard for room in my heart, and, alas ! too, too 



CONVERSE WITH THE WORLD UNSEEX, 2$$ 

prevail. — Companionate Redeemer ! when (hall thy 
flranger arrive at thefe realms of day, and join the fin- 
lefs throng that worihip at thy throne, and never. 
never, fin ? 



VII. 

WE SHOULD LIVE ABOVE THE WORLD. 

O divine Lover! O divine love! how wonderful are] thy 
Works ! Six or eight thoufand years ago, there was not 
one adorer to be found before thy throne } but now how 
arc the conrts of the grzzt King thronged ! and thoa- 
jands and tea thousands daily worfbip at the throne ! and 
by and hj not only the angels of light, but the heirs of 
love,, (hall all fit down in the kingdom cf their Father* 
Then fhall I get full views cf thee, O thou darling cf 
thy Father y thou defire of all nations, and light of the 
world above! Men and an e created to be happy 

In thee, and got their beings that thou might ft be glori- 
fied, and they might be bleffed ; but men and angels fell, 
of the human race all, that feme might be redeemed \ 
of the angelic fome, that none mould be recovered. O 
wifdom infinite ! O fovereign love ! Then, not only being 
and blifs have I from thee in creation, but in the won- 
derful work of ledemption. And yet I am a ftranger 
to my divine Redeemer ! O when fhall I come and 
ftand before thy throne ? As faft as the chariot of time 
can drive, I am pofting to the unfeen world, but how 
iliall I be afhamed that_I had not one meditation before 
me ) and chiefly, O thou glory of thy Father's houfe, 
Y 2 that 



2 $6 CONVERSE WITH THE WORLD UNSEEN. 

that I had not more acquaintance with thee ! To lit at 
thy feet, will blefs my eternity ; and to talk of thy love, 
will heighten my joy - ? then, let me juft dwell before 
thee in time, and with my fpirit within me feek thee 
early. Should not love be my daily theme, which (hall 
be the table-talk at the marriage- fupper of the Lamb, 
through eternity ? Do I believe that this, world and I 
mull part, and that at odds ? how then will the expectant 
of glory like to get the He from lying vanity ! It is beft 
here to be fird in the quarrel, to fall out with the world, fa, 
as not to leave it one affeftion, but have them (et oa. 
things above. 



VIIL 

JOT AWAITS THE SAINTS.. 

1765* 
Can I take it ill, Fountain of joy ! that I forrow now 
a little, mice in a little, like thofe who walk in white 
robes, with crowns 011 their heads, and palms in their 
hands, I mall be-in an ecftafy of joy for ever ? When I 
am brought from the houfe of mourning, to make my 
folemn entrance into the King's palace, it will be with 
gladnefs and rejoicing. All my powers of mind will be 
entranced at my admiflicn into thy beatific prefence ! 
All the heavenly graces will fing in concert at receiving 
the crown of perfection ! All the angels of light will 
welcome me with joy to their great Mailer's houfe ! 
and the whole church of the firft-born will fhout my 

happy acceffion to the purchafed throne ! 

Yet 



CONVERSE WITH THE WORLD UNSEED. 257 

Vet for all this my welcome would be but dry, and 
their long but dull, didft not thou, O Jehovah ! re- 
joice over me ! didft thou not reft in thy love, and 
joy over me with SINGING. How can holts or angels 
look fad, if their Maker joy ? How can the heavens be 
filent, if Jehovah ling ? All thine attributes, all thy per- 
fections, ihall harmonize in my falvation. Mercy and 
truth, righteoufnefs and peace, ihall meet and kifs, and 
(bout and ring. O what aftonifhing tranfports and en- 
trancing melody (hall fill the higheft heavens ! where, 
O amazing ! where the fubjeft of our fongs, and object 
of our love, ihall himfelf be the fweeteft linger, becaufe 
lie does every thing according to the grandeur of a 
God. 



IX. 

THE JOY OF SAINTS UNSEEN. 

How do the men of the world miftake religion, and 
think the Chriftian dull and melancholy, dumpilh, and 
rnorofe! But, O Fountain of my joy ! thou knowefi what 
divine delight I find in my retired moments. I only la- 
ment that I am not more alone, or, when alone, that I 
am not more with thee. The requeft of the fpoufe ihall 
be mine, — Come, my beloved, let me get up early from 
an enchanting world, let me go forth from the vanities 
of time, let me lodge in the humble village of folitude, 
let me walk in the flowing field of the prcmife, and 
there will I give thee my loves. In thefe fvveet moments 
heaven fmiles in my face, and my foul exults in God. 
I grafp at my expe&ed blifs, and tafte the joys en 
Jxigru- 

Y 3 x. 



2j8 CONVERSE WITH TH£ WORLD UNSEEN. 

X. 
HEAVEN TPIE BEST INHERITANCE. 

A divided fea, and a ilaming Sinai, falling mamta ? 
and a friendly cloud, were wonders of old ; but, O what 
a wonder this, that the God of glory fhouid come down 
to give wings to worms of the earth to bear them to the 
ikies ! Amazing ! to fee infects foar above the (tars, and. 
arrive at the realms of day ! When, O when (hall I alfo-- 
join the mining multitude that fits on Zion's hill ? — But 
there is not one crawling infect in all the heavenly 
country. So, though I be a worm below, while I rife to 
the throne, I (hall rife into an angel in the aflimiiating 
beam. 

Truly, O King eternal ! my faith fees that the land 
of promife is a pleafant land, and that thy prefence makes 
heaven a deniable habitation. Let the men of the 
earth contend about thy footftool } I will not be fatisfied 
with any thing beneath thy throne. What is a province^ 
what is a kingdom, what is an empire, what a continent, 
what the whole world, to an inheritance in the higheil 
heaven ! To thy honour, O thou King of kings ! all thy 
glorified fubjecls are both altogether and always kings* 
In thy favour they are exalted, and none (hall ever drive 
them from their date. A portion, or diviiion, of the 
Arabian defarts, would have been no compliment to the 
tribes who w T ere travelling toward the land of promife 5. 
nor (hall I much efteem a plot of this enchanting world, 
who dellre to be only charmed with my heavenly pof- 
feffion. 

O pleafant country ! O land of delight ! where the 
T/vinter is paft, and eternal funuaer dwells ! Sia dares not 

pafs 



CONVERSE WITS THZ WORLD UNSEEN. 2jp 

^pafs the frontiers of Immanuel's laad j forrow and iick- 

nefs dare not invade the feats of bliis. Shall I hereafter 
inhabit the land where fin (hall no more infer! k ? I who 
have been in hot wars with it all my life ! Shall, then, a 
land that is within the tea-mark of wrath, engage my 
attention, or gain my etfeem, when my native country is 
fo very near ? I have but a little way to go till I pafs 
over Jordan, and enter into mine eternal poffefficn, no* 
of Canaan, not of paradife^ not of heaven, but of Jeho 
and the Lamb, where I (hall enjoy ail thy comma*. 
nicable fulnefs ages without end. 



XL 



ENEMIES OV£RTHRC r . 



Though Ifrael was, without doubt, fafe under the con- 
duel of the man of God, while recoiling feas left their 
bed a paffage for the ranfomed tribes, and the angel and 
the cloud interpofed between tb* heirs of promife, and 
the hardened purfuers m 7 yet when their enemies are no 
more, but their lifelefs bodies, wfcieli caufed their terror 
in the land of the living, are lying on the ihore, how do 
they fing and boaR in their divine Deliverer! Even fo ? 
though under thy conduct, O Captain of falvaticn ! I am 
fafe in fpite of earth and hell at my heels, in fpite of iin 
and corruption riflng in my heart ; yet how defirable 
is it to enter into the land of reil: i how pleafant to join 
the triumphant throng, w r ho have put off their armour, 
and on their crowns ) dropped the fpear, and taken up 
the palm ! In a word, how fweet, how ineffably fweet, 
to ceafe from iin ! 

Thou 



SOO CONVERSE WITH THE WORLD UNSEEN, 

Thou knoweft I defire to depend on promifed grace, 
and in the ftrength thereof to cut my way through all 
my enemies \ but I alio denre to pant for promifed glory, 
when not an enemy fhall be found in all the heavenly 
world. Hail happy day, w T hen death, fpiritual death, 
that choakecl my graces, and flew my comforts, and hell, 
even fin and Satan, fhall be cart into the lake of fire. 
To believe in thee is my duty while below, but to be- 
hold thee will be my blifs above. Faith and hope re- 
fresh and fupport me in the militant ftate, but vifion 
and fruition lhall tranfport and ravifh me for ever. In- 
deed my defence is the fame, but the fenfe of my fecurity 
differs. Though grace fhall rife into glory, yet often 
my faith of this is fhaken, and a heavy tumult enfues in 
my foul : but when crowned with glory, and feated be- 
fore thy throne, I fhall fin no more, I fhall fear no more, 
but enjoy divine ecftafies, facred tranquillity, and all the 
j) ieafures of the land of love. 



XII. 

THE EXERCISE OF THE BLESSED. 

O ye heavenly hofts, how are you this night em* 
ployed ? — " In beholding him, and bleffing him, in feeing 
him, and ringing to him. We look on him, and love 
him \ we look to him, and are enlightened j we fee him, 
and are like him } no fatigue deadens our devotions, no 
weaknefs inclines us to repofe; we are immortal, and our 
theme is eternal} fo we cannot be wearied, and it cannot 
be exhaufted !" 

What high and beautiful flights are in your fongs, then, 
O ye redeemed from among men ! O the ravifhing ac« 

cente 



CONVERSE WITH THE WORLD UNSEEN. l6k 

cents cf the hofannahs above, and the raptures of the 
hallelujah on high ! O the (weetnefs of the fong of Mofes 
and the Lamb, and the melody of the mingling notes of 
men and angels ! O the fublime fubjecl: of the anthem, 
and the eternity of the concert ! — u True, O man ! for 
our day knows no night, our fong no paufe, our virion 
no vail, our fun no cloud, our light no fhadow, our 
ftrength no decay, our felicity no period, our love no 
allay, and cur eternity no end i" 

Did ye fee, O ye exalted ones ! would ye not pity us 
the fons of men, to find us fo anxious and eager in the 
purfuit of lying vanities, as if eternity were come down 
to time, or the things of time cculd fiat eternity ? Ye 
are honouring Chriit. to the high eft, for he is in your 
foul, and in your long ; in your love, and in your eye, 
O bleffed exercife ! O excellency of blifs ! The Mofc 
High, in the higheii heaven, in the brighter! difplay of 
his glory, in the fweeteir m an ife Rations of his love, is 
the fubjecT: of your fong, the object of your adorations, 
and the plenitude of your poffeflion ! My reft would be 
your uneaHnefs ; for I muft fall afieep in order to bear 
the toils of a periihfng world, but ye reft not day nor 
night, and yet are fufficieni for the ecltafies cf an eternal 
heaven ! Thefe are the years of the light hard of t he- 
Mo tt High j the days of the exalted Son of man, one of 
which I long to fee. O the ftrength that flows from 
that u exceeding and eternal weight of glory ! ,? the 
more weight, the more might ! 

Oh ! at an immenfe difianee I only leek toward that 
land of blifs, but have I any thing to do with your 
joys ? methinks I claim them all. That God is my 
God by the fame relation, to whom I (hall mortly 
eome} that immortality I mail fliortly put on) I (hall 

ihortly 



5 6* CONVERSE WITH THE WORLD UNSEEN. 

ihortly join in that fong, poiTefs that glory, plunge into 
that b'iils, be fatisfied with that likenefs, fee that well* 
beloved of my foul, burn in that love, fhare of that full- 
nefs, and enter into that joy ! Therefore, in this low 
condition, it fhall be confolation to me to meditate on 
the fublime employment of the higher- houfe, till I xm 
torn fported thither. 



XIII. 

COMPLAINTS OP SPIRITUAL LANGUOR. 

O Lord, thefe mway years I have pretended to- love 
thee. I have indeed ta&edl that thoia art gracious 5 but, 

alas ! how can I fay that I lave rhee„ when- my heart is 
not. with thee * Can I love thee,, and not long for thee ? 

Sorely it is the nature .of love to be impatient and icB:- 
Ids till poflefled of the object beloved, yet buw little do 
I long for thee ! How can I dwell with, lb much con- 
tentment at (iich a difbnce from thee ! I am not only 
aftoniflied, but terrified at my fell. O lukewarm heart! 
O lifelefs lover that I am ! is this my kindnefs to my 
friend ? Did I efteem the fmiles of thy face, and the 
light of thy countenance, as I fhould, I could not dwell 
with fo much pleafure in the land of darknefs. Did I 
regard the honour of thy name as I ought, the daily 
light of thine enemies would be my daily grief, and to 
find myfelf fo often a&ing the enemy againft my deareft 
Lord, and bed friend, would be my continual lamenta- 
tion and burden. Is it poffible I can be an heir of God, 
an expectant of glory, and not pant after communion 
with God ? Ah ! in what deluiive dreams have I hitherto 

been 



CONVERSE WITH THE WORLD UNSEEN* 26$ 

been held ! Is the whole creation able to balance the 
lofs of one moment in heaven ? Shall I dwell fo long at 
Jerufalem, and not long to enter into the palace to fee 
the King's face ! O thou chiefeit among ten thoufand I 
firike off my fetters, and captivate my love. Divide 
thy heavens, and let mine eye of faith look in, and my 
foul will follow mine eye. Why mould I, when invited 
to a crown of heavenly glory, like Saul, hide myfelf 
among the fluff of worldly cares ? What a firaggle have 
I with ftubborn fenfe, and prefent things, a carnal mind, 
and a weak faith, with cold denres, and languid love 3 
O to be enriched with that faith which is the fubflance 
of all that a believer can hope for, the evidence and 
earneft of all the divine excellencies of the unfeen 
world ! Then, my faith (hall work by love, and my love 
mall go out on God, and I in very deed long to be foi 1 
ever with the Lord ! 



XIV. 



PREPARATION FOR HEAVEN* 

Were I to go abroad, with all my fubflance, and fpend 
the remainder of my days in another land, would not 
fome things gain my attention ? 1. I would flndy/the 
language of the country, that I might converfe with the 
inhabitants in their own dialed!. 2. I would get all the 
knowledge I could of the laws, liberties, &c, of thofe 
among whom I were to take up my fixed abcde. 3. I 
would ufe my utmoft endeavour to cbntracl: acquaint- 
ance, and eftablifh a friendfhip with the men of the 

places 



t,$4 CONVERSE WITH THE WORLD UNSEEN. 

place. And, 4. If poffihle, would get recommended t@ 
the favour and protection of the lord of the land. 
Alas, then ! am I lefs provident for heaven than I would 
be for earth ? 

Ye inhabitants of the heavenly Canaan, how will ye 
ftare at me r if I enter your affembly an utter ftranger to 
your fongs ? My trifling difcourfe, and carnal converfe^ 
will found and fmell rank of hell, in the courts of 
heaven ! Oh ! am I to converfe through eternity in the 
language of love, and yet not know a letter below I 2. 
Aril I to be under the laws of thy fceptre, O King of 
faints ! and not know that God is love ! O ! now to be 
fear chin g into the privileges of that land which I am to 
inhabit, not for the fhort term of life, but for eternity 
itfelf - y where I (hall fee the King in his beauty, and 
(hare of the divine fulnefs of my exalted Head. 3. 
Would I be acquainted with the church of the firfl- 
born, and all the angels of light, (and, ye happy ones, 
I hope to join you foon) ; then only in our employment 
we contract acquaintance, for while we worfhip at the 
fame throne, and beheld the fame amiable Being, faith 
and vifion having like effects, we are companions in 
love, and aflbciates in work ! and are affimilated to 
the glorious object we behold. And, 4. Since in the 
fmiles of thy countenance I ill all find my eternal heaven, 
how fhould I efteem thy favour above life, and ardently 
breathe after communion with thee below ! I may dwell 
in any country here, and neither know nor be known of 
the king , but fo I cannot in thy land, O Immanuel ! 
for nnlefs I know and be known perfonally to the 
King, I will not have one known face in all the world 
©f fpirits ! 

XV. 



XI IK THE WORLD UXSEEH. l6$ 



XV. 

THE ETERXAL SABBATH, 

How is it that I, who pretend to love thee, mould e r - 
be weaned with a Sabbath-day's devotion r If the body 
is fatigued, or the (pints exhaufted, how fhall I itand 
under much intenfer ardours, through eternity itfelf? 
What fay ye. ye adorers round the throne ? do ye never 
long to reft from your divine employment ? * O poor mor- 
tal! how ignorant art thou of our frame, our faculties, 
our felicity and ftrength ! The reft thou fpeakeft of would 
be our torment \ an intermifiion of praife would pierce 
us with the fevered pangs of anguith. Didii thou fee him 
as we do, thou wouldit wholly melt in admiration, diilolve 
in love, and pour forth in praife, and never ceafe, and 
never tire through eternity itielf.' 

O Father of lights ! pity my darknefs, and enlighten 
me ! O fountain of life ! pity my deadnefs, and enliven 
me ! While I call in mine own experience to convince 
that the faints in glory never are fatigued or dulled 
in their divine exercifes, have not I had fome happy 
moments, of which I did not weary r Now, when in my 
belt frames. I have found it fofor a fnort while, but corrup- 
tion and infirmity daily diltreiiing me altered all, elfe 
I ihould have found it fo for a long time. But in heaven 
the fpiritual frame is fixed, and infirmity and corruption 
are no more j therefore, with equal eafe and vigour I 
will worihip God through eternity, as I would one hour 
on earth. Well may the fire of love continually burn in 
yen. having frefh fuel added to it by the hand of God ; 
I well 



%65 CONVERSE WITH THE WORLD UNSEED. 

Well may my foul follow hard after thee, being up- 
held by the arm of thine Omnipotence. Then to wor- 
ihip at thy throne (hall be both the bttfinefi and the btifi 
of my eternity. When once I have tatted what it is to 
reft in the hofom of God, to drink the fpiced wine of 
blifs, to hold communion in the holy of holies, and to 
wcrfhip at the higheft throne, then all created beings 
joined together will not drive me one moment from my 
dear enjoyment and divine employ ! Roll on, thou 
longed for day, when I mail mourn no more over feeble 
nature, and the lhort- lived frame, a hiding Jefus and 
imperfect love •, but rife to ardours only known above, 
2nd, full of heaven, go wholly out on God. 



XVI. 

INDIFFERENCE TO THE WORLD. 

It is a certain truth, that countenances are fomething 
skin to climates ) hence the vifages of fome reveal their 
country : even fo my foul has but a dufky colour, an 
earthly hue, becaufe earth engroffes all my thoughts, my 
cares and concern. O how little converfe have I with 
the onfeeh world ! how little communion with God i 
One ffep into the future world xvill render this as if it had 
never been, and my flrft Hep may be it, fince I walk on 
the frontiers of each world. Becaufe this world will 
cheat me, fhall I cheat myfelf ? It will be a coftly pledge, 
to give it my foul till I yield my body to its bowels. 
Wherein (hail the expectant of glory excel others, if his 
caufes and cures of joy and grief are the fame ? Should 

one 



CONVERSE WITH THE WORLD UNSEEN. 267 

one who would fain be converfant about a world to 
come, fo much concern himfelf with wind and vanity, 
dull: and ames ? Bags of white and yellow duft may bring 
me to court here, but the whole world on my back, will 
not procure me entrance into the palace of the King 
Eternal. When arrived at the feats of blifs, it will not 
matter whether my journey was in the fair day of pro- 
fperity and fame, or in the temper! uous day of affliction 
and difgrace. Both are forgotten in glory. But if I 
love God, I will long to be with him, for I {hall never 
get my fill of love in a foreign land. Well, death is 
fad approaching, and the wondrous hour that divides 
Jordan. Both deliver me from the howling defart, and 
poiTefs me of the land of promife. Under fuch a pro- 
fpecc, well may I with chearfulnefs give up the gholl, 
faying, Into thy band I commit my fpirit* 



XVII; 

THE DISEMBODIED SAINT. 

1765. 

Whither, dear angels, whither do ye carry my foul 
juft difembodied r " Commiffioned from thy Father's 
throne, we come to carry thee fafe into ,his. immediate 
prcfence.'? What difrnal howling is that I hear behind 
us r " It is the lait yells of helPs old lion at thy fafe 
efcape." — Ah ! where am I now ? what wonders rife 
around me ! what fragrance meets me from the moun- 
tains of myrrh, from the hills of frankincenfe ! I hear 
the voice of my Beloved 3 facred guardians, let me leave 

Z 2 y0U 3 



268 CONVERSE WITH THE WORLD UNSEEN. 

you, and fly into his arms ! Am I he who lately lay 
tumbling and toiling on a death-bed, who now walk ill 
beds of rofes and on banks of blifs r Am I he who a 
little ago had none around his bed, but weeding friends, 
and concerned fpeclators, who now am furrounded with 
fcng, entranced with harmony, and raviihed with delights ? 
Am I, who lately lay ftruggling with the pangs, and trem- 
bling at the approach of diiTolution, now above 
reach of fear, and Broke of death ? 

But, O thou Majefty of heaven ! I blufh at my very 
entrance into thy courts, that I have been fuch a it ranger 
here. Enoch, the divine Enoch, is a wonder in the up- 
per world, he had fo much of God with him on e 
he brought fo much of heaven with him to heaven ; he 
came not from earth to heaven, but from one heaven to 
another. What precious time and iweet meditation 
have I wailed on toys and trirles, and defpifed the joy 
of angels and the work of heaven ! Where are all the 
things of time now, which could once difpute the pof- 
feffion of my heart with God ? Why did not thy perfec- 
tions fear! my meditations ? why did not thy love at- 
tract, conftrain mine r why did not the joys of heaven 
drown the fanciful joy 5 ?, and ditiipate the imaginary 
fcrrows of the world ? why did I proititute the temple of 
my foul to the idols of time ? why permit the zuor/d and 
fetf a place m that temple which the Godhead is to in- 
> for ever ? There are none before the throne but 
fcpreme lovers of God, a name I dare not claim: then, 
let me retire to the out moil confines cf the land of hlife-, 
as unworthy to be nearer. Ah! no; at thy throne I will 
dwell for ever, and glow in ardours, and ciifolve in love. 
And the facred fpark, which En and Satan, the world 

and 



CONVERSE WITH THE WORLD UNSEEN. l6<) 

and felf, fmothered while below, mail burn a flame 
intenie and ilrong through everlafting day. 



Shall I chaunt, or (hall I complain ? Even my com- 
plaints praife thee \ it is thy kindnefs opens my mouth. 
Had I been thrown into hell, my revenge had been againft 
the throne of God j but while I find myfelf in the arms 
of blifs, with what language ihall I condemn my conduct 
in time ! Was I content to have dwelt on the other 
fordan for ever f to put up with a fool's paradiie for 
eternity ! O ! why did not my foul go out more after 
God ? why did net my love center on him alone ? how 
could I treat my belt, my heavenly friend, worfe than 
a common traveller ! My houfe received the one, but 
my heart bolted out the other ! How mean was mine 
efteem of the fsiretf one that ever angels faw, or feraphs 
fung ! O that ever trifling avocations fliouid have called 
my meditations off that work that would have kindled 
love and heightened my joy ! Why did I look always 
through a falfe medium, on every thing that concerned 
me \ Is it pofnble' that this vaft inheritance of glory 
could appear in mine eyes a little defpicable ifland, that 
lay beyond an unknown ocean ? O! hail thou bellowed 
on me the boundlefs inheritance of blifs, who once gave 
mine affections fo much to a few miles fquare on thy 
foot (tool, that lay within the fea-mark of corruption and 
the curie I Was my love ardent to every ether object 
but the God of love r Oh ! was mine efteem proportionate 
to their excellency, yea, was it not beyond what all 
their excellencies put together defer ved, yet dead and 
(dull, low and languid to the Father of lights, and Foun- 
Z 3 tain 



2JO CONVERSE WITH 5?H£ WOULD UNSZEN. - 

tabs of perfections ? Why did not the fire of love burn con- 
tinually with a moil vehement flame, a flame that many 
waters could not quench ? Why did I not ccnfider that 
thou waft love, and that this world, where I am now 
arrived, was a land of love, and that the fong of the 
redeemed is juft the warmerl breathings of divined: love, 
tt To him that loved us :" O what a hard, adamantine 
heart was mine, that in the midll of fo many fpicy flames 
was not melted into love ! But here the furnace is ieven 
times heated, and the cloudlefs emanations of eternal 
love make every grateful power of mind rife to the throne 
of God, like favcury incenfe from the fmoaking altar. 



Can I ever forget, in this exalted ftate, my folly when 
in time ? How unbecoming for an heir of heaven to take 
io much thought about the earth ! Did my faith believe 
that fuch immenfe treafures were referred for me in the 
land of promife *, and yet my unbelief diilracl me about 
the trifles of a day ? Where now is the advantage of all 
my corroding cares, and difquieting forethoughts ? How 
unbecoming for one whofe ilrength was the joy of the 
Lord, to feel grief for the perifhing things of time 1 
Why did I take it in bad part to be poor in a world^ 
where my deareil Saviour, whofe hands founded the 
golden mines, beautified the fparkling diamond, and 
enriched the precious ftones with brilliant glow, lived 
and died in extreme indigence ? Why did any forrow 
that was bounded by time, and ended in death, difquiet 
my immortal part ? Whatever I loll in time being of a 
perifning nature, could not enrich me now -, and it mat- 
ters not what be now and then burnt, where all is devo- 
ted to fire. 

Another 



CONVERSE WITH THE WORLD UXSEBN. Zfl 



Another error I was guilty of in |he days cf my 

vimage below, was joy in the world ; and yet all that 

.d cf, when I came to the hour of death, 

could neither avert the ftroke, ;ate the pangs of 

duticn, Kow like the fenfe and earth, to re- 

:h is beitowed on : ■ : of men, and 

[eft of endo ! Neither the angel nor 

the animal regard the golden fumj and yet was I, whofe 

aal life could not be Gipported by iuch, nor mine 

angr \£ there, bewitched with 

lhining duft ; How lonely had .age been, O beft 

Beloved, through the valley of deat I the treafures 

of the world, i prefence 1 \\ ith triumph I walk 

tig the golden ftreet, an. s joy trample the 

ing metal, t: : once invade my heart, and 

decoy mj Ah! was I ever 

fo ftupidj Co brutifh, as to make any comparifon between 

riches and .. gold and glory, earth and beah 

the creature and 6 . d not flop my long one 

moment to give laws to the whole world, nor itir one 

ed the throne of God to iway the fceptre over 

::S. Now I am happier than the nobles, higher 

than ngs cf any land 1 



O King Eternal, how am I changed ilnce I came into 
thy prefence 1 the emanations of thy cloudlet's glory 
have made me exceeding fair ', and thou hail beitowed 
upon me excellent majelty. Whence is this, for a worm 
of thy fectftool to rife into an angel before thy throne, 
and grow fairer and fairer in thy aiiimilating beams } 
Sin would not know me now, that often blackened my 

conscience. 



^2 CONVERSE WITH THE WORLD UNSEEtf.- 

confcience, and faddened my countenance, fornow my con- 
fcience Jings, and my countenance fhines, having full re- 
demption in his blood. Who would fay that ever my 
heart, which is now a garden inclofed for my well-be- 
loved, was a field of battle, where the company of two 
armies daily fet the battle in array ? Fellow- fufferers would 
not know me now, but take me for an ancient inhabitant 
cf the land of blifs, and not for one that lately fojourned 
in Meihech, and dwelt in the tents of Kedar. O what an 
heavenly change, what a divine metamorphofis is this ! 
in which all my powers of mind fo deeply (hare. In the 
■day of grace it was much to be like David the man of 
God j but now in the year of glory, I am like the angel 
of God ; ah ! deeper wonder Hilt! like the God of angels I 
Hofanria, Hallelujah ! Selah. 



"No wonder that in the world- I did not think more 
cf falvation, and the work of redemption, for I dwelt in 
darknefs, and tabernacled in clay \ but iince I have en- 
tered within the vail, and come into the prefence of God 
himfelr, the my fiery is revealed, and my enlarged powers 
of mind are oppreffed with wonder and amaze ! I once 
thought that I was fomething, but fince arrived into the 
more immediate prefence of the Being cf beings, I fee I 
am very nothing, a mere non-entity ! Now, had the mi- 
ning feraphims left their fparklirig feats, and rapturous 
fongs, to lead fuch emmets through the howling wilder- 
nefs, it would have been a wonder ; but for him, at 
Tv-hofe throne the proftrate angels fall, and on whofc 
glory Gabriel cannot look, the Father's fellow, the 
<God of angels, the fountain of bappinefs, and the king 



CONVERSE WITH THE WORLD UNSEEN. 2/3 

of heaven, to defcend to time, to clothe himfelf with 
Befti, to humble himfelf to death, and to encounter all 
the iiorms of his Father's tremendous wrath ! and that 
for the very wretches that rebelled againit him, is, and 
will be the wonder of eternity ! 



1767. 
Here in the higheft heavens I fee the extravagance of 
my folly, when on the footltcol. How did I mourn for 
my expiring friend, as if I had neve* heard of immortality, 
and forrow for the dead as one that had no hope ! To 
what purpofe were my tears, mine anguiih and my 
wounded heart r did I difpute the will of Gcd, or envy 
them their bliis ? did fuch fadnefs in my countenance 
make my heart better ? Why did not faith behold afar 
off this happy day, when (6 few* moments intervened 
between their deceafe and mine ? Now earthly relations 
are loft, but not forgotten j loft in the dearer tie and 
diviner unity of the heavenly family. The dear infant 
retains not the putrid difeafe that matched him from his 
parents arms, but appears beauteous as the foiling morn- 
ing, and lovely as the fons of God. Not a gracious 
relative is loft, but meet here with mutual advantage* 
In fome, imperfect grace and peryerfe nature might raife 
domenic florms, and impede their prayers at the throne \ 
while in others, too high efteem and fond delight might 
prove as fatal to their foul's concerns; but now all fmful 
defects and lawlefs excefs are removed, and we {hare in 
others bliis, and join in others fongs, triumphing over 
death and weaknefs through eternal d^y ! 

While 



274 CONVERSE WITH THE WORLD UNSEED. 

While walking through the vale of tears, how many 
have my mournful melancholy Sabbaths been ! While fin 
and Satan, objects without, and diixraclions within., have 
haraffed, how has the day been profaned, my mind per- 
plexed, and fadnefs fei^ed on my foul, fo that I have 
often pleaded a viiit from the Lord of the Sabbath, and 
implored his pity againil my foes, and longed for this 
eternal day of reft. Now, what dreaming joys dilate 
my ravifned foul, to find myfelf poSefled of everlafling 
Sabbath ! nothing from without, nothing from within, 
can defile my foul, or diffract my devotions. This is 
the day that I have longed for $ and in thy prefence, O 
thou Son of man, O thou majefty of heaven, (hall eternity 
be one Sabbath-day ! and all the day (hall I worlhip at 
thy throne, and the length of the day (hall be the 
delight of my foul j nor (hall my fanctified heart need a 
conftant watch, as once againfl her rovings, feeing it is 
effential to the perfect ftate, and heavenly frame, t§ 
go oui only on God. 



, 1769. 

The heirs of heaven need not take it amifs that they 
are mourners while travelling through the fields of Bo- 
chim, the vale of Achor. So fhort is the duration of 
their for row 7 to the eternity of their long, that they have 
hardly time to heave the deep-fetched iigh, till their 
heart-firings map, and their joyful foul dies into their 
heavenly Father's arms, and enters eternally into the joy 
of their Lord. 

Such is now my happy Rate above $ and though in 
the dark night of time I miftook every mole-hill of trial 

for 



CONVERSE WITH THE WORLD UNSEEN. 2^ 

for mountains of diitrefs. yet it was only the ihadow o£ 
trouble that attended me, the ihadow of grief that way- 
laid me, and the (hadow of death that I walked through 5 
fo that trouble could not dirlracl me, giief could not 
deftroy me, and death could not devour me. But now 
even fhadowy evil is pair, and fclid, fure, fubftantial good 
is mine. I enjoy the effence of joy, the quinteflence of 
blifs, even God in his own heaven, God in his own Son ! 
noondays of glory, rivers of pleafures, fulnefs of joy, 
oceans of ecftafy, ages of communion, entrance my every 
raviihed power. 



Feb. 1777. 
How happy are all the hofts around the throne ! how 
content thoie who have been often difappointed 1 how 
chearful the mourners, and how happy all the fons of 
forrow ! Glory is fuch a weight, God is ftrch a portion, 
that every power of foul is raviihed and bleffed above 
conception. O the fulnefs of the heavenly blifs ! there 
is neither want nor wo, vanity nor vexation, preying on 
any foul \ but God, in his divine perfections, fills and 
overfloweth all. 



XVIII. 



A CHECK FOR NOT MEDITATING ON DIVINE THINGS, 

Jan. 1. 
Does my faith expect a kingdom, an heavenly king- 
dom, and a crown of glory that fadeth net away ? and 

can 



t»j6 CONVERSE WITH THE WOULD UNSEEN". 

can I live days and weeks, months and years, without a 
real ardent defire to be put in poiTeflion of the promifed 
land I I wonder not io much that the wicked think 
nothing of heaven, (for who admire unknown lands ?), as 
that the faints think fo little of it, though now and then 
allowed to pluck the fruits of paradife ! Were the day 
fixed, on which I fhould make my appearance at an 
earthly court, to he created a peer, and continue in my 
prince's favour and prefence ever after till death, how 
often would my thoughts revolve the aufpicious day, and 
feaft on the imaginary, the tranfitory grandeur ! And in 
the mean time, were it notified to me, that my fovereign 
would not only permit me, but would take it kindly, 
and expected that I fhould often meditate on the majefty 
of his throne, on the equity of his fceptre, on the im- 
mutability of his laws, on the wifdom of his government, 
on the riches of his treafures, on the fweetnefs of his 
favour, on the munificence of his love, on all his admi- 
rable perfections, and on the amiable perfon of the prince- 
royal, the heir of his crown, and beloved of his foul, I 
would not need a fecond invitation to thefe meditations. 
Now, when all thefe fuppofed excellencies in an earthly 
monarch are realized in the King Eternal, and in the 
King's Son ; and I am not only permitted, but invited and 
commanded to meditate on him, affured that the day is on 
wing w r hen I mail be brought into the palace of the King, 
crowned with immortality, and ferve him in his temple 
evermore \ what a ihame, what a fin, yea, what a lofs is 
it, that my whole foul, in all her thoughts, meditations, 
defires, delights, longings, and outgoings, is not en God, 
and the things cf God ! 



XIX. 



CONVERSE WITH THE WORLD UNSEEN". 177 

XIX. 
APPROBATION OF TRYING PROVIDENCES. 

Dec. 17*70* 

O Governor of men and angels ! how well does it be- 
come me to be conformed to the Captain of my falvation, 
who was made perfect through fufferings ! Who ever 
expected to find bright noon in the dark night, or ferene 
fummer in the middle of (tormy winter, or grottos, arbours, 
and flower-gardens, in a barren defart ? why then am I 
furprifed that I {tumble while travelling in the night, 
or that it rains and is fometimes very tempeiluous in the 
winter- feafon ? or that I find barrennefs in the defart, 
and lofe fight of my fellow-travellers in the dark ? 
I will count my afflictions then, but I dare not quarrel \ 
I will plead for companion, but I will not complain. 
Death has fo often preyed around me, that I only am 
efcaped alone to tell, that I have neither father nor 
mother, filler nor brother, nephew nor niece, nor any 
nearer relative. Yet when the Sun of righteoufnefs (hall 
arife on me, I (hall (hare an eternal day above the reach 
of night, a ferene fummer where winter (hall return no 
more \ and a blooming paradife, and arbours of blifs, 
where there is no barren defart. Alfo, while I leave 
all my infirmities, and all my afflictions in the vale of 
mifery behind me, I (hall find treafures of glory, rivers 
of pleafure, in thy prefence, fulnefs of joy at thy right 
hand for ever : Moreover, I (hall find my religious friends 
In the better country, whofe death I now bewail \ but 
verily I believe, I (hall lofe and overlook them ? and all 
A a the 



278 CONVEP.SE with the world unseen, 

the heavenly crowd, while entertained with better com- 
pany, and admitted to more divine communion with 
Jehovah and the Lamb. 



XX. 

faith's triumph over affliction. 

Sept. 26. 1772. 

In a little I (hall be where I never was before, and 
where I now am, I (hall never be again. With every 
immortal, I mall be in eternity, and bid a final farewell 
to time. I (hall juit be in that heavenly place where 
my happy meditations now are. In thy prefence, 
O Saviour ! at thy throne, O King of kings ! mall I find 
my heaven. Sure, then, it can never become an expec- 
tant of fo much blifs, to be fad for any thing but fin, or 
to joy in any thing but in God. When I am no more 
numbered with the living, but lamented over as a broken 
veffel, I fhall mingle with the holts of the living God, 
with the armies of light, and exult in my celeftial privi- 
lege for ever. 

Like the reft of Adarrrs difcontented family, I am 
often grumbling at my griefs, complaining of my afflic- 
tions, and on the brink of quarrelling at the conduct of 
Providence itfelf. To be without afflictions is impoflible 
below, where man is born to trouble, as the fparks fly 
upward 5 not to feel when afflicted, is a Stoical, is an 
impious ftupidity - } but to fmk under troubles of any 
kind, is beneath the character of the Chriflian. Yet, 
when I reflect on that eternity of blifs which is before 

me. 



CONVERSE WITH THE WORLD UNSEEN". 279 

me, on that world of glory of which I am an heir in 
minority, I wonder that my affiiclicns are not rather more, 
than that they are fo many. Is it much for me to tum- 
ble among the rough (tones of adverfity, to have my 
flefh pricked with the thorns of trouble, who (hall walk 
the golden itreets of heaven, and wear a crown of im- 
mortal glory ? Though the whole earth mould rife up 
agamft me, if heaven, and the God of heaven be for me, 
I am in perfect, lafety, and may fing my requiem in the 
niidft of all the ftorms and tempeits, whirlwinds and 
hurricanes, that can blow. 



XXI, 

A SWEET PROSPECT OF FUTURE BLISS. 

Nov. 20. 1773. 
How foon I mall mingle with the inhabitants of the 
Jnviilble world, I cannot fay j but I may affure myfelf 
it cannot be long. Why, then, converfe 1 fo feldom with 
the unfeen world ? why daily ftrike my roots deeper into 
this world, like an old tree, when, like an old tree, I 
muft fhortly be cut down ? By kind providences, and 
gracious promifes, 1 am hired to be heavenly-minded, 
and by affli&ions am I chaftened for my carnality j but 
could my faith get one lip of the heavenly banquet, I 
would long to lit down at the marriage- flipper of the. 
Lamb. What a rich feaft is found in the kingdom of 
God, which entertains thoufands and ten thoufands of 
happy fouls through eternity •, and fhall my immoital 
foul feed on the refufe of creation ? I tread under foot 
the flowers of this footflool, and rife in my ambition to 
A a 2 the 



2r8o CONVERSE WIT H THEWORLD UNSEEV. 

the blifs of heaven, to the fruition of God. O what 
beams of glory {hine on me ! what treafures open in my 
view ! the all-fufficient j^Wenjoyed through everlafting 
day by all the powers ,of my expanding, wondering, 
ravifhed, and enlarged mind. 



XXII. 

THE RAVISHING EMPLOYMENT OF SAINTS IN GLORY. 

May 22. 1174. 
It is owing to the richnefs of grace, and (lability of 
love, that I do not forfeit my title to the heavenly 
inheritance, by taking fo little delight in divine things, 
and being fo captivated with the perifhing creature ! O 
fool that I am! to be bufi'ed about dufl and afhes, and to 
delight in. a thing of nought $ for the whole creation 
fhall at lad be fet on lire, and deceive for ever all the 
votaries of fenfe. Then, when admitted into thy un- 
clouded and beatific prefence, what a ftrange change 
fliall take place in my purfuits ? 1 fliall feel a frame of 
mind fuperior to the claim of my faith, and my foul fhall 
be rilled with raptures never felt, never known below* 
My foul fliall largely open to the facred emanations 
of the Deity, and exert all her ravifhed powers in 
fearching the divine perfections, and through eternity 
purfue the blifsful theme. Then, and not till then, fhall 
I know what it is to fee God, to have communion and 
fellowship in their perfection with the Father, and with 
his Son Jefus Chrilt, and, with faints and angels, to en- 
joy him in all his inexhauflible fulnefs. There fliall not 
be an unemployed moment, nor an idle thought there. 
Crowns and kingdoms fhall not excite one wifh there \ 
-(why then Ihould leffer things excite fo many wiflies now 

fince, 



CONVERSE WITH THE WORLD UNSEEN. 2Sl 

ilnce I am to be fo foon there ?) but God's infinite fell 
Hull be my all in all through eternity ! 



XXIII. 

A REPREHENSION FOR DECAY IN GRACE, 

Dec. 17. 1775* 
With tears of blood might I write bitter lamentation? 
over the deadnefs of my foul, the darknefs of my ilate ! 
Is the beloved of my foul in heaven, and (hall the love of 
my foul grovel on the earth ? Has he who is fairer than 
the children of men, than the angels of God, loft all his 
beauty with me ? Has he no form nor comelinefs that 
I mould defire him, meditate on him, and long for him^ 
O the mad career of my unftabliihed mind, to hunt after 
ihadows, vanity, wind, and let heaven and glory go ! 
O happy day of glory that is on the wing, when fin 
(hall poifon my puriuits no more j but all my foul, with * 
the ardour of heavenly love, and the vigour of perfected 
grace, fhall fearch the adorable perfections of God. 



XXIV. 

THE NOBLE INDIFFERENCE, 

April 13. 1*7* 
The brevity of time, and the near approach of eter- 
nity, give to the rightly-exercifed foul a noble indiffer- 
ence about every thing below. What matters it whe- 
ther I dwell in a palace or a prifon, fince it is but for a 
day, an hour, a moment ! What difappointment mould 
pain me in time, if I fhall poffefs God for eternity ? I 
* A a 3 look 



$8l CONVERSE WITH THE WORLD UNSEED. 

look around me, and fee multitudes eager on the ctiace, 
keen in the purfuit, of created good, forgetful that the 
world paffeth away. I look forward to the invifible 
world, and fee multitudes in their eternal ftate, aftoniih- 
ed at the ftupidity of faints and fmners, that the trifles 
of a day mould with them preponderate fo much. I 
alfo find myfelf in the deluded throng of trirlers, and 
condemn my own conducl. An hundred years ago, O 
ye difembodied nation?, fome of you were inhabitants in 
time, and ere an hundred years hence, I (hall dwell in 
eternity. Ye then ftraggled along the road of human life 
with care and concern, with burdens and bitternef?, but 
now are for ever at your journey's end ) I am now tra- 
velling the thorny path, and mall alfo fhortly arrive at 
home. Then there ihall be no difference between you and 
me, when both dwelling in the fame eternal world ; and 
the interim is fo fhort, that nothing that can befal me 
mould either give pain or pleafure. I am on the wing 
to the celeftial paradife, and no blafls in my face fhall 
hinder my flight to the mount of God. The brevity of 
lime may be bitter to the finner, becaufe torment and 
eternity feize him in the fame moment , but it muft 
afford me joy, for the fhorter my time, the nearer to my 
endlefs felicity. Bodies can never be larger than the 
orbits in which they move •, then all the complicate 
afflictions of time muft difappear when time is no more. 
Why, then, take deep thought, or long forrow, or much 
joy, or lafting delight, at the ill or good of a few riving 
moments. My foul is immortal, and 'God is eternal: 
therefore in thee below T , and in thee above, in thee in 
time, and in thee in eternity, ihall my foul find bound- 
leji pleafures and unfading blifs. 

XXT 



CONVERSE WITH THE WORLD UNSEEN. 283 

XXV. 

NO HAPPINESS BELOW, 

Nov. IS, 1717, 
Never mall I attain to happinefs, while I feek it in the 
creature, or expect it out of heaven ; and O how littls 
concern have I with the things of time, who am fo far 
on my journey towards eternity ! When the world gets 
into the afteclions, there is nothing but tumult and dif- 
order there ) this I have long found \ but when heaven 
dwells within, the heart becomes a little heaven, and 
all is peace and ferenity, compofure and joy. O! then, 
to keep the heart barred againlt enchanting trifles, and 
to live above every thing below. At the hour of death, 
I fhall make my triumphant entry into the New Jeru- 
falem, and from the walls of the holy city I mall bid 
defiance to all the cares of life, the pleafures of fcnfe 5 
the armies of corruption, and the legions of hell. 



XXVI. 

COD A NEVER-FAILING PORTION. 

Dec. 12. 1778, 
With refpect. to this world, I ileep but a part of every 
day •, but with refpedfc to a world to come, alas ! how long 
is my ileep, how little am I awake ! O it is fad to be 
taken up with dreams and fhadows, and to neglect eter- 
nal realities ! I am happy to be fhaken out of my falfe 
confidences, and to hang on my heavenly Father alone, 

and 



384 CONVERSE WITH THE WORLl> UNSEEN. 

and if difappointed in my fupport, it will not be owing 
to the inftability of my prop, but to my not leaning 
aright on him. However, I am happy, and I claim to 
be happy with his rich grace and overflowing love, ir> 
fpite of all temporal difafters, mould the whole of my 
time be one feries of difappointments, one continued 
temped and florin, fince the hour of death brings me 
fafe to the other more, where the enjoyment of God 
and the Lamb (hall replenifh my whole foul. 



XXVII. 

GOD CLAIMS THE WHOLE HEART. 

May 30. 1779. 
O to have communion with God in all things, and at 
all times \ and for this end I ihould keep for him my 
heart. If I am vifited of a great friend, I mull not 
fpeak twice to an impertinent neighbour that intrudes 
into our company, and but once to him, left he take it 
amifs, and depart 5 I muft not give lome rafcally ac- 
quaintance the chief feat in the beft part of the room, 
and fet him in the corner, left he grow angry, and be 
gone. Juft fo, God expecls my heart, claims my me- 
ditations, and is affronted when he is not in all my 
thoughts. O ! then, to get my idols deftroyed, my medi- 
tations fwept of vanities, and my heart wholly kept for 
God. 

XXVIII, 



CONVERSE WITH THE WORLD UNSEEN. 28$ 

XXVIII. 

THE BEST EMPLOYMENT. 

June 13. HIP. 
To prepare for a world to come may well employ me 
while in this world, and the fweet hopes of the heavenly 
paradife may well fupport me while travelling through 
this earthly wildemefs \ and when I arrive there, it {hall 
not diminifh my blifs, that in my pilgrimage I had fome- 
times ftorms and tempefts in my face, clouds and thick 
darknefs around me, troubles and dangers in my way, 
aliens and enemies as my companions by the way, and 
that I was often walking without any company at all, 
or with company worfe than none. When I arrive 
there, I (hall get fuch a view of the wifdom that con- 
dueled me along, that I fhall not only approve of it, but 
admire, adore, and fing of it for ever. 



XXIX. 



ON THE DEATH OF FRIENDS. 

Bee. 9. 1781. 

If we love to converfe with cur friends, or where the 
greateft part of our friends dwell, furely I fhould love to 
converfe much with the unfeen world, where almoft all 
my friends are. Several years ago, death fwept off all 
my father's family, but him who now laments a fecond 
ftroke, by which the complete half of my little family 

(the 



286 CONVERSE WITH THE WORLD UNSEEN. 

'" 

(the child of mine own body, and the wife of my bofom} 
is carried into the unfeen world. Thus Providence has 
torn my family to pieces, blafted my pleafant profpecls, 
plucked up the olive-plant that might have graced my 
table, and cut down the fruitful vine that flouriihed by 
my houfe-fides, and thus made defolate all my company, 
fo that I have no near friend to confult with about the 
affairs of this world, or the concerns of the unfeen 
world. Now, if there was no other ftate than this, no 
Other world but the prefent, furely my fituation wer 
extremely melancholy ; but there is a future Irate, an 
unfeen world, that balances all. Sd, while the tear ftarts 
in mine eye from affection to my friends, a triumph rifes 
in my heart, from a faith of their felicity. The days of 
my mourning will come to an end, but their happinefs 
and hofannahs are eternal ! 



XXX. 



DIVINE WISDOM IN OUR VARIOUS LOTS. 

Nov. 12. 11S3. 
The wufdorn of the gardener is feen in the difpofition 
of his plants m 7 fome he fets in the fun, others in the 
fhade j fome in a rich, fat foil, others in a dry and barren 
ground j and thus the nurfery-man's ffc.il! is confpicuous, 
for each thrives be ft in its own foil. Then, fmce 
Infinite Wifdom has allotted a great part of my life to 
forrovv and folitude, (not that I complain), I may fee 

that 



CONVERSE WITH THE WORLD UNSEEN. 2%f 

that I could not grow in another foil. O that I be not 
unfruitful in this ! Behind the high wall of adverfity* 
and in the lhade of affliction, the faints will bring forth 
fruits (humility, felf-denial, resignation, patience, &c.) 
that cannot grow fo ivell'm the fun-beams of profperity, 
Now, if another foil would be more agreeable to me, I 
ihould rather feek to change my nature than my fta- 
tion j for, were I that active vigorous .plant that would 
abound in fruits under a bright fun, and in a rich foil, 
and not grow too luxuriant through pride, (hake off my 
unripe fruits through carnality, or rot through iloth and 
fecurity, the heavenly hufbandman would foon tranfplant 
me there, for he does not afflict willingly, or grieve the 
children of men. No matter though, with refpect to 
the things of time, I grow in the (hade, if the Sun of 
righteoufnefs mine on my foul, and make every grace 
to flourifh. He knows better what lot is bed for me thari 
I do myfelf j and, in chufmg it for me, I am rather to 
admire his wifdom, than complain of his conduct \ the 
more fo, when I confider that, on a barren foil, and in 
a lonely (hade, he can rear plants that (hall enjoy the 
noon of communion, and balk in the eternal beams of 
^lorv. 



XXXI, 



538 CONVERSE WITH THE WORLD UNSEEN. 



XXXI. 



THE MIND TOO LITTLE ON HEAVEN. 

Jan. 1. 17S6. 
Alas ! how little do I converfe with myfelf, how 
little with the unfeen world, how little with God ! and 
jet what various events in adorable Providence call for 
my attention ! With God there is a time to give, and 
a time to take \ a time to remove, and a time to re- 
Sore \ a time to afflicl, and a time to comfort ^ but all 
thefe things point me to my latter end, and admoniih 
me to converfe with the unfeen world. Now, what 
folid confolation may this yield to me, that he who is 
Hiy belt friend, is Supreme Governor over all ; and wilL 
ihortly, through all events, bring me to the eternal en- 
joyment of himfelf ! 



XXXII. 



THE DUTY OF THE AGED SAINT* 

March 1, 1793* 
The kind providences of my lot, command my gratis 
tude to Heaven, my entire dependence on his arm, and 
peace and compofure in my breaft. But the heavenly 
promiles of being brought home to glory, and fatisfied 
for ever with his likenefs, may (hed a little heaven 

through 



CONVERSE WITH THE WORLD UNSEEtf. 1%$ 

through my breaft *> and that I am fo far advanced in 
life, may gather cheer than diftrefs me. O how vain 
and uncertain is this world, but how fweet and fure the 
unfeen world towards which I look ! When Hezekiah 
got the meiTage of his death, he turned away his face 
from his courtiers, his officers of ftate, and his attendants^ 
towards the wall, for none of our friends can attend us 
through the dark valley j fo, in view of my approaching 
diffolution, I fliould turn my face, my affections, away 
from all created things. I am now, like the Israelites, 
arrived on the very banks of Jordan, and juft waiting 
for the command to pafs over \ and till that day come, 
I wifh by the eye of faith to take pleafant and repeated 
views of the unfeen world, to wean me from this wilder- 
nefs, to endear that land to me, and to encourage me 
in view of palling over the river. Ifrael dwelt forty 
years in the defart, but when they left it, they left it for 
good and all, and never pitched a tent there again, or 
expreffed the leaft define of returning thither •, juft fo^ 
though I mould dwell feventy years in this weary world, 
yet when called away, O with what chearfulnefs will I 
quit the land of my pilgrimage, the place of mine 
exile, and when gone I (hall be gone for ever, and 
raife a triumphant fong at being entered on mine ever- 
lafting reft, and being fet for ever free from fin and 
earth, from infirmity and death* 



Bb xxxiir, 



%m CONVERSE WITH THE WORLD UI 

XXXIIL 

- ~f 

AFFLICTIONS WILL ATTEND US TO OUR LAST. 



Bee. 16. 1794. 

Skould I be furprifed at fuffering like them that 
have gone before me ! However numerous or uncom- 
mon fome of my affiiclion-s may be, I thereby am con- 
formed to the happy fouls before the throne, who came 
out of great tribulation and fiery trials. I am to ac- 
quit Sovereignty in the kind, (though I may be ready 
to fay, Is there any trouble like my trouble wherewith 
the Lord hath affii fled me r), and in the continuance of 
my afflictions, while only fin in the inftrument, and 64 
in myfelf, are to caufe me daily grief. But Divine Love, 
Infinite Wifdom, and Sovereign Grace, can turn this, 
ihadow of death- into the morning, and out of this 
soaring lioi> bring forth food to my foul. 



fin i &: 

Prirtted by J. -FiUans k -Sons, Lawnmarkek 



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